Research & Innovation policy briefi ng pp. 21-30 What if CBSA has Canada Justin new sniff er needs a Trudeau dogs, X-ray never runs proactive machines to again? p. 10 pandemic catch gun Hill Climbers: smugglers p. 31 innovation Treasury Board President Duclos The post-COVID-19 economy p. 18 strategy p. 23 hires p. 39

THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1726 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 $5.00

News Part I of III-Part Series: Transparency, Trust & Transition News Conservative leadership MacKay back Feds should have into ad game after month- long hiatus, as fi scal update, recovery Conservative Party plan soon, says Page membership

Kevin Page says deadline nears • ‘We are reading IMF Prime Minister BY PETER MAZEREEUW International Monetary and Finance Fund reports on Minister Bill ould-be Conservative lead- Morneau's Wers Peter MacKay and Erin Canada, we are reading statements O’Toole are continuing their push that 'they will to sign up new party members PBO reports on Canada, do whatever it as the May 15 cutoff looms, and we should be reading takes to buffer using very different digital cam- the blow of the paign strategies to do it. the minister of fi nance’s virus' are not Mr. MacKay started running a fi scal plan. paid ads on Facebook and Insta- fi scal update,’ says The Hill Times gram late last week for the fi rst time former PBO Kevin Page. photographs by in more than a month. Facebook, Andrew Meade which owns Instagram, is broadly • A PBO report and Jake Wright considered by digital strategists to published last month be the best place to run targeted on- BY NEIL MOSS as a former parliamentary budget the coronavirus pandemic. line ads. The social media platform projects a defi cit of offi cer says that the “clock is tick- The government cancelled also maintains the most detailed here are ’s new ing” for the government to release its planned budget that was publicly accessible “library” of paid $252.1-billion in the Wshoes? a fi scal update so Canadians can set to take place at the end of political ads online. That is the question that is be- see its plan for a recovery from current fi scal year. ing asked around Parliament Hill the economic crisis brought on by Continued on page 37 Continued on page 32

News Media Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Newspaper industry must ‘speak with one voice,’ say publishers pushing feds to ‘level the playing fi eld’

BY MIKE LAPOINTE crunch from lost advertising rev- of Canada’s major newspapers government earlier this month. newspapers,” the letter, signed by enues as a result of the COVID-19 came together in a rare demon- Titled “An urgent message to publishers and executives from s the Canadian newspaper pandemic and the associated stration of coordination to deliver the from Aindustry continues to feel the economic downturn, publishers a dire message to the federal the publishers of Canada’s major Continued on page 33 2 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

courage and sacrifi ce of those who fought in the Netherlands during the Second World War. We remain forever in their debt.” Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence Heard on the Hill MacAulay participated in a virtual ceremony marking the Netherlands May 5 liberation and Victory in Europe day three days later. Gover- by Neil Moss nor General Julie Payette also took part. “Seventy-fi ve years ago today the Nazis fi nally surrendered. Europe (including my grandmother and surviving family mem- bers) were free. Thank you to the valiant Michael Wernick was the Privy Council clerk ‘Forever in their debt’: Canadians who fought for our freedom and from 2016 to 2019. The Hill Times photograph helped secure Victory in Europe,” tweeted by Andrew Meade Conservative MP . MPs mark 75 years since Defence Minister was in B.C. public service agency deputy minister Italy last December alongside Conserva- Lynda Tarras on the future of public service tive MP and Bloc Québécois this week. Michel Bodrias th MP to mark the 75 anni- The Pearson Centre for Progressive Canada’s liberation of the versary of the end of the Italian campaign. Policy webinar will look at how the coro- navirus pandemic has shifted the life of public servants. Brendan Kelly wins Dafoe Topics being discussed will include Netherlands and the end Prize for book on Canada’s how the epidemic has changed the work of government in the short term as well as the fi rst francophone envoy in long term. The three panelists will also dis- of World War II in Europe cuss what is now to be expected of public D.C. servants and what they can achieve. They will also address how the next generation Brendan Kelly’s book on a francophone can be enticed into working for the public hree quarters of a century ago, the the Dutch Royal family after the war as a diplomat’s life in a largely anglophone service. TCanadian Army advanced through gesture of eternal gratitude,” he added. public service has won the Dafoe Prize. Mr. Wernick was the top bureaucrat the Netherlands in 1945 liberating it from Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Free- in the public service from 2016 to 2019 nearly fi ve years of Nazi occupation. land marked the liberation in the House Brendan before he took an early retirement in MPs honoured those Canadians who Chamber and the service of her grandfa- Kelly will be the midst of the SNC-Lavalin affair after fought in support of the Dutch liberation, ther Wilbur Freeland. presented the a recorded call between him and then- including the more than 7,600 Canadians “Our soldiers liberated the cities from Nazi Dafoe Prize for justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould who died in the Netherlands. occupation and, to this day, the children who The Good Fight: was released that contained the then-clerk “The Liberation of the Netherlands was hailed them in the streets remember them Marcel Cadieux telling Ms. Wilson-Raybould that Prime Canada’s last major contribution to the still. Seventy-fi ve years later, they continue to and Canadian Minister Justin Trudeau wanted SNC- Allied victory in Europe,” Prime Minister tend to the graves of our fallen soldiers. Their Diplomacy in a Lavalin to receive a deferred prosecution Justin Trudeau said in a May 5 statement. children and grandchildren lay fl owers at the ceremony in the agreement. “We still remember the close ties forged in feet of monuments dedicated to the memory fall. Book cover The public service has been praised for war, and celebrate the special bond between of our Canadian heroes,” she said. image courtesy of their work since the onset of the pandemic our two countries, as we continue to promote Mr. Trudeau added: “While this year’s UBC Press for quickly rolling out emergency spending our common goals of peace, freedom, and se- commemorative ceremonies have moved measures amid an unprecedented period in curity. Each year, this friendship blooms anew online due to the global COVID-19 pandem- Canadian history. in the colourful tulips of Ottawa, donated by ic, I invite all Canadians to pay tribute to the The virtual event will take place on May 11 between 2 and 2:45 p.m.

Mr. Kelly’s The Good Fight: Marcel to enter stem Cadieux and Canadian Diplomacy delves into the life of a man who led Canada’s cell treatment for cancer Foreign Affairs department during the Where in the world are some of the height of the Cold War amid the rise of recovery Quebec separatist fervour. Liberal MP Jim Carr announced on Marcel Cadieux later served as Canada’s most promising discoveries in life last week that he is beginning stem ambassador to the United States from 1970 cell treatment to tackle blood cancer. sciences happening? to 1975, holding the post during the presi- dencies of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Jim Carr Mr. Kelly wrote about Mr. Cadieux life for currently his University of doctoral dissertation. serves as He is currently a junior fellow at the Bill Gra- the prime ham Centre for Contemporary International minister’s History as well as an instructor of internation- special al relations at the . adviser to The Dafoe Prize is named in honour of the Prairies. John Wesley Dafoe, a former editor of the The Hill Manitoba Free Press—now the Winnipeg Times Free Press. The prize is awarded for the photograph best book on “Canada, Canadians, and/or by Andrew Canada’s place in the world.” Meade Other nominees included the CBC’s Aaron Wherry for Promise and Peril: Justin Trudeau in Power, as well as Adam Chapnick‘s Can- Mr. Carr announced his myeloma diag- ada on the United Nations Security Council: nosis last October. A Small Power on a Large Stage, Tina Loo‘s Right here. He began the stem cell treatment on Moved by the State: Forced Relocation and May 5, he announced in a tweet. The treat- Making a Good Life in Postwar Canada; and ment was delayed due to the COVID-19 Dave Meslin‘s Teardown: Rebuilding Democ- pandemic. racy from the Ground Up. “I expect to be recovering in the hospi- Our name is adMare. We’re building the Canadian life sciences industry For winning the award, Mr. Kelly has tal for a few weeks,” Mr. Carr wrote. “The earned $10,000. Mr. Kelly will formally be from sea to sea. We do this by identifying therapeutically and commercially past few weeks have been a challenging awarded the prize in a fall ceremony in and unprecedented time for everyone but promising research from leading Canadian academic and biotech Winnipeg. I know that we will get through this and partners to create new companies of scale, and by providing specialized emerge stronger than ever.” expertise and infrastructure to help existing companies scale-up. Former PCO clerk Michael The MP for Winnipeg South Centre, Man., was appointed Prime Minister Justin Why do we do what we do? Because Wernick to talk future of Trudeau’s special adviser to the Prairies Canada has what it takes to become last November. He was previously the min- public service after the ister of International Trade Diversifi cation a world leader in life sciences. and the Natural Resource minister. pandemic In the onset of his diagnosis, Mr. Carr said his kidney function had been affected, To learn more visit admarebio.com Former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick and he had begun chemotherapy and dialy- will be participating in a talk with sis. Professional Institute of the Public Service Debi Daviau [email protected] of Canada president and past The Hill Times Let·s build a more resilient Canada

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Liberal MPs Yvan A weekly rolling Nanos poll Baker, front row, suggested last week that the Lib- left, , erals were leading the pack with Chief Government the support of 36.9 per cent of Whip Canadians, followed by the Con- and Liberal MP servatives who had the support . of 25.7 per cent of Canadians. The Liberal MP Majid NDP’s support was at 19 per cent Jowhari, second and the Green Party was at 8.4 row left and per cent. Liberal MP Jean Liberal MPs interviewed for Yip, pictured at this article said they would like a Liberal caucus to see nomination rules similar to meeting on the Hill those used by the party before the Jan. 23, 2020. last election. The federal Liberal “When we were asked to meet Party is consulting the targets last time it was diffi - MPs, past cult, but it was all very benefi cial candidates, and to do as well, simply because you riding associations raise money, you need money for on the nomination your campaign, you make phone rules for incumbent calls, you do your door knocks, MPs for the next which we should be doing any- election, whenever way,” said Liberal MP one is called. (Fleetwoods-Port Kells, B.C.), in The Hill Times an interview with The Hill Times. photograph by “All things considered, hitting Andrew Meade the target of fundraising might be more diffi cult because of [CO- VID-19]. But, at the same time, it’s the sort of thing we should be doing. We’ll all have time to ramp up the fundraising after we get through the current situa- tion. Some kind of target is very reasonable, there’s no reason for MPs to get a free ride.” Liberals consulting MPs, party Liberal MP (Malpeque, P.E.I.) agreed: “Same as they were last time,” said Mr. Easter, a former cabinet minister, base on nomination rules for the who is now the chair of the House Finance Committee. Mr. Hardie also said that he was not aware of any conversa- tion behind the scenes that would next election: spokesperson Caley suggest that the party was plan- ning on calling an election this year. Liberal MPs want the Mr. Caley said the party un- through in the House, the Justin phases of the crisis depending on “I’m not privy to any rumi- derwent a similar exercise before Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) Liber- how satisfi ed Canadians are with nations on that,” Mr. Hardie party to bring back the 2019 election and set specifi c als need the support of at least the government’s performance. said. “We’ve work to do to get us targets to meet for MPs who don’t one other political party. In return After the crisis is over, the through this.” the same nomination want to face nomination chal- for their support, the opposi- government will likely have to According to the Conserva- lenges. tion parties always make certain undertake measures to tighten tive Party’s nomination rules for rules that it put in “The party undertook a simi- demands to satisfy their own the budgetary belt, and reduce the incumbent MPs, if an election larly broad consultation in build- party base, which are not always government defi cit that is expect- were to be called between now place before the last ing the process on the road to the in sync with the governing party’s ed to reach $250-billion or more. and June 2021, all MPs would be election. 2019 campaign, and that kind of agenda. Those measures will undoubtedly protected from nomination chal- thorough feedback is always an Sometimes the governing be unpopular with some voters. lenges. If an election is held after important consideration to us,” party in a minority will attempt Moreover, Canadians will have June of next year, Conservative BY ABBAS RANA said Mr. Caley. to engineer its own defeat in the to pay taxes on the emergency MPs can still carry the party’s Prior to the 2019 election, House and trigger an election fi nancial relief they’re collect- banner without a challenge pro- he Liberal Party is consult- the Liberal Party set require- when it sees a rise in its sup- ing now, which will add another vided they raise $15,000 by Dec. Ting MPs, past candidates, ments for their incumbent MPs if port and an opportunity to win burden on them. 31, 2020. and riding associations on how they wanted to seek re-election a majority government. This is Liberal MPs and other senior If any Conservative MP fails it should draw up the rules for without undergoing the regular typically done by introducing government offi cials are also to meet the deadline, they would MPs seeking a nomination to run nomination process. According to legislation that opposition parties keeping a close eye on the ongo- have to then raise $25,000 by for the Liberals again in the next the rules announced in January cannot support. ing Conservative leadership April 30, 2021. If an MP did not election. of 2018, incumbent MPs were For the last few weeks, the Ot- contest, and know that a strong meet either of the two deadlines, The Conservative Party was required to have participated in at tawa bubble has been awash with new Conservative leader could their ridings will be open for fi rst out of the gate, announcing least two “voter-contact-day-of-ac- speculation that the governing give the governing party tough nomination challenges. nomination rules last month. tion” door-knocking events in the Liberals could trigger a fall elec- competition in the next election. Considering such a low thresh- A spokesman for the Liberal last 12 months in their respective tion, as they are now polling well The Liberals won 157 of 338 old to be acclaimed as the party’s Party told The Hill Times that the constituencies; attempt to knock ahead of the other parties. seats in the last election. The Con- candidate, all MPs are expected party was consulting rank and fi le on at least 3,500 doors or make Liberals, however, deny this servatives won 121, the Bloc 32, to meet the threshold. members and MPs on the rules 5,000 phone calls; raise funds speculation, saying they have no the NDP 24, the Greens three, and According to Conservative for the next election, whenever equivalent to 50 per cent of the interest in even discussing this one Independent MP was elected. sources, the caucus had recom- it’s called. expected election expense limit subject and want to focus all their Recent polling numbers show mended the fi nancial target as the “Right now, the Liberal team’s for 2019; submit a written plan attention on helping their con- that if an election were held now, sole requirement for qualifi ca- priority is ensuring that all Cana- to raise the other half; sign up at stituents fi ghting the COVID-19 Liberals would likely win a ma- tion as a candidate for the next dians are healthy, safe, and sup- least 30 new monthly donors; and crisis. They say now is not the jority government. election to the national council, ported through this diffi cult time,” secure signatures of support from time to discuss another election, According to a Leger poll the elected 20-member govern- wrote Braeden Caley, senior di- at least 150 registered Liberals in when millions of people have released last week, if an elec- ing body of the party. The council rector of communications for the their riding. applied for emergency fi nancial tion were held now, 44 per cent accepted. Liberal Party, in a statement to The party had set an Oct. 1, relief from the government, and of Canadians would support the Conservative MPs told The Hill The Hill Times. “Our party is con- 2018, deadline to meet these con- thousands of people have tested Liberal Party, 26 per cent the Con- Times that the reason the thresh- tinuing to hear ideas from Liberal ditions. However, the party was positive for COVID-19. servatives, 16 per cent the NDP, old is so low is that fundraising MPs, past candidates, EDAs, and fl exible and gave MPs more time By deadline last week, there and six per cent would vote for is going to be a major challenge registered Liberals across Canada provided they showed progress were 64,922 confi rmed cases of the Green Party. even after the pandemic is over. on the best process to help elect towards meeting the targets. COVID-19 in the country, and The online poll of 1,526 Ca- By deadline last week, the even more Liberal MPs whenever In a minority Parliament an 4,408 Canadians had died. nadians was conducted between NDP had not yet fi nalized the the next campaign eventually election could happen at any In not-for-attribution-based in- May 1 and May 3, and had a nomination rules for caucus arrives, and we’ll have more to time; all it takes is the loss of one terviews, MPs acknowledged that margin of error of plus or minus members. share about that process in due confi dence vote in the House. the support for their party will 2.5 percentage points, 19 times [email protected] course.” To get every piece of legislation go up and down during different out of 20. The Hill Times Essential to the Economy

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cn.ca 6 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News House sittings Relocating to more spacious venue for House sittings impractical, some MPs say

in person. The arrangement was to observe public health guide- which has among the highest legal impediment to MPs meet- Liberal MP Kevin agreed to without the support of lines to minimize transmission number of viral infections, ex- ing in a different building, but it the Conservatives, who had been of COVID-19. He said he doesn’t tended its emergency order last would come at a greater cost of Lamoureux says pushing for more frequent in- expect Parliament to return in full week until at least May 15, while securing that site. he doesn’t expect person meetings with a reduced this year. British Columbia is under those “There is a question of the contingent of representatives. “It would be crazy for us to orders until May 12. cost for logistics for this. We Parliament to PROC’s report, which will continue to go back before the Liberal MP don’t know how much of the likely inform parties’ negotiations summer. It wouldn’t be advisable,” (Spadina-Fort York, Ont.) echoed taxpayers’ money may be needed reconvene in full this on how to legislate amid CO- he said. Ms. Blaney’s concerns, noting for this huge room,” Mr. Persaud VID-19, is due May 15. Asked when he expects the that, even though Toronto is rela- said. year. Conservative House Leader House to resume sitting in person tively close to Ottawa, he would Steve Chaplin, a former parlia- Candice Bergen’s (Portage-Lisgar, as a whole with all 338 MPs, Mr. have to take a train or plane since mentary counsel with the House BY BEATRICE PAEZ Man.) offi ce declined to comment Lamoureux said, “I can’t see that he doesn’t own a car. of Commons, said the Speaker & PALAK MANGAT on whether the party is support- happening this year, personally. “Until we see a signifi cant lift- will have to designate the build- ive of the idea or would raise it That’s a personal opinion, just ing of some of the emergency dis- ing as part of the precinct to move to a more spacious during negotiations with other based on what I see happening in tancing measures, the travel back allow MPs and other personnel, Avenue that would allow all parties. Mr. Brassard was unavail- the environment around me,” he and forth, is [not prudent],” he such as the Parliamentary Protec- 338 MPs to meet without coming able for comment, but told the said. said. “It’s a fairly intense concen- tive Service, to operate there. into close contact with each other committee the centre has more “I think it would probably be tration going back out to every Asked about whether the wouldn’t necessarily address all than 17,000 seats, while the Shaw better to have a discussion of this region of the country. There’s a House administration is actively of the public health challenges of Centre, in downtown Ottawa, has nature in July, when we would lot of different vectors that can be looking into the possibility and an in-person meeting, some MPs 365,000 square feet of space. have a better sense of [the situa- triggered by that. … Unless you’re the considering potential costs, say, and had not been raised as Requests for comment from tion],” he added. within less than an hour [away], spokesperson Heather Bradley a prospect among House leaders the Bloc Québécois were not NDP Whip it’s highly unusual to be there.” deferred to the work of PROC. as of last week, says NDP House returned by deadline. (North Island-Powell River, B.C.), Mr. Julian, for his part, said Still, some expressed openness leader . Conservative MP who sits on PROC, said she is not that B.C. may be on a better to the idea. Routine House sittings have (Saskatoon-Grasswood, Sask.) “comfortable” travelling to Ottawa trajectory than other provinces Rookie Green MP Jenica been suspended until at least May said a move to another location at this point. “It’s a huge trip and in handling the pandemic, but he Atwin (Fredericton, N.B.) said 25 amid the pandemic, giving par- is “wishful thinking,” given the for me, and as a representative would have reservations travel- Parliament should be open to ties two weeks to determine how logistics involved in such a move, from a more rural part of Canada, ling to and from Ottawa because “creative solutions,” adding that proceedings will take place for including he and the current model isn’t sustain- the rest of this year’s parliamen- transpor- his wife able. “It’s a two-week-at-a-time tary calendar. tation for are the journey that all of us are on right Mr. Julian (New Westminster- MPs. principal now,” she said. “I’d say if we didn’t Burnaby, B.C.) said House leaders “Let’s caregivers have a second wave, we should be “haven’t had any discussions” quit the to elderly okay [to be in the same room] by around relocating from the West Shaw parents in the fall. But it’s really hard to say.” Block Chamber to a wide-open Centre; their late Former NDP MP David Chris- venue like the Canadian Tire let’s quit 90s, who topherson, a former PROC mem- Centre in Kanata. Mr. Julian said the Cana- are among ber, said the idea could have merit he expected discussions around dian Tire those at and should be considered. short-term plans beyond May 25 Centre. high risk “In an ideal world, Parliament to start this week. We’re for the should sit in the seat of govern- “Our bottom line is following going to virus. ment … but if that’s not possible, the best medical advice. When we have to “I then it just makes every sense to rose on March 13, it was because do more haven’t me you’d look at other places,” he it was very clear we were vec- of these heard any said. tors for virus transmission, and virtuals, medical As for concerns about losing the best thing to do was to not but there’s offi cer the gravitas of the Chamber, Mr. have Parliament sit,” he said. “I nothing saying in- Christopherson said, “the seat can’t see all 338 MPs being in the wrong traprovin- of Parliament is wherever they House. That would take a miracle with a Green Party Parliamentary Leader , pictured May 6, 2020, speaking cial travel park their rear end. It’s far more over the next couple of weeks.” limited with Deputy Prime Minister from a distance in the Chamber before is recom- important we have a functioning In a phone interview, Chief number the special COVID-19 committee meeting. Some MPs say moving to a more spacious mended,” Parliament rather than worrying Government Whip Mark Holland of MPs venue for sittings would still require travel into the city, and parties 'haven't had any he said. about the niceties.” (Ajax, Ont.) declined to comment that we’ve discussions' about such a move. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Mike Benoît Pelletier, a former on specifi c timelines, saying it is seen in Morden, Quebec minister who is now a premature as the House Proce- the House research law professor at the University dure and Affairs Committee is of Commons,” said Mr. Waugh. it’s going to be quite a longer trip,” director at Samara Centre for of Ottawa, said the “image” of still studying the transition to she said, adding her commute Democracy, said that Switzerland MPs meeting in an arena that is virtual sittings. Commute from ridings, requires taking a ferry and then has opted to hold its proceed- home to professional sports team “We can’t make decisions that intraprovincial travel a catching a fl ight to Ottawa. ings in a conference centre in should be considered. are injurious to public health, that Holding sittings in other Bern, but that Canada has unique “I don’t think MPs should meet would put our communities at concern locations to help MPs maintain a geographic challenges that have in a place where there are nor- risk and families of MPs at risk. Liberal MP Kevin Lamou- distance of at least two metres is to be considered. He added there mally hockey teams playing; it’s That would be a violation of col- reux, parliamentary secretary to not the “best solution,” she said, as are parts of Canada where health not the best place for Parliament,” lective privilege,” he said. Government House Leader Pablo it still requires MPs to travel into systems may not have the capac- he said. If an alternative venue is Conservative MP John Bras- Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier, the city and puts “a lot of pressure ity to respond to outbreaks. looked at seriously, Mr. Pelletier sard (Barrie-Innisfi l, Ont.) raised Que.), said while it wouldn’t be on House staff to have to interact “There’s lots to like about a said the “dignity” of the house the idea of holding sittings at the “appropriate” for Parliament to with multiple people.” physical meeting, but I’m not should be upheld. Canadian Tire Centre, home to sit in the current confi gurations Besides the 338 MPs, there is sure we realize all that value if Mr. Morden said those con- the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, as a “in the near future,” there could a network of support workers on we have MPs spread out over the cerns have already largely been safer alternative to convening in be a rotation of MPs physically the Hill, from interpreters to an fi eld,” Mr. Morden said. “One of abandoned, now that MPs have the Chamber during an April 23 present in the Chamber instead of IT crew to security guards, which the things we keep hearing is it been meeting over Zoom. meeting of the committee, also a change in venue. assist in parliamentary opera- [physical meetings] won’t replace “You’ve lost that connection to known as PROC. “I’m convinced it would be tions. Even during skeletal sit- the informal interactions between the convention,” he said. “To me, Virtual sittings have already worth it,” he said. “With the excep- tings, there are at least 50 staffers members of the two Chambers. it’s clear that the virtual Parlia- begun, with some technical blips tion of the relatively narrow hall- roaming the halls, not counting It’s not clear that that would hap- ment is in the immediate term. It’s for those in rural and remote ways, there’s some precautions security personnel, PROC heard. pen if we’re meeting physically a medium-term solution. I could areas. Every Tuesdays and Thurs- that could be taken in the current Though parts of Canada and strictly adhering to physical- see an argument down the road, if days, MPs have been logging facility that would allow for us to are on course to fl attening the distancing protocols.” we have greater clarity. It’s quite on Zoom to question ministers be okay. The only time in which it epidemic curve, and are gradu- clear that the Commons can’t as part of the special COVID-19 gets tight is in QP.” ally staging the reopening of the Cost a consideration physically convene.” committee, struck in place of Mr. Lamoureux, who is usu- economy, public health offi cials Radha Persaud, a public policy [email protected] routine proceedings. On Wednes- ally a fi xture in the Chamber, have cautioned that the threat of professor at York University’s [email protected] days, a skeletal Parliament meets has been staying put in Winnipeg the pandemic remains. , Glendon campus, said there is no The Hill Times children. There is also a need for designated funding for Children First Canada Kids Can’t Wait! child-focused research in order to ensure than children’s and the Council of health and well-being is not impacted in the long- Champions The federal government must term by the cancellation of virtually all non-COVID19 research across the country. Sara Austin, Founder and CEO, act now to mitigate the impact Children First Canada • Protecting children from violence: including scaling of COVID-19 on children. up programs to keep kids safe in their homes and online, Dr. Kevin Chan, Former Chair and Chief of Pediatrics, such as: extending supports to children and youth Children’s Health Memorial in and out of care, supporting children and families Owen Charters, CEO, Across the country, children are uniquely at risk with emergency needs, providing home visits while maintaining physical distancing, and supporting Boys and Girls Clubs Canada impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and they and children and families with virtual visits and programs. Mathew Chater, CEO, their families are in urgent need of support. This must also include ensuring the continuity of care Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada for children who had experienced abuse prior to the Dr. Ronald Cohn, CEO, Children are affected by disruptions to their daily lives due to crisis and preparing for an anticipated spike in child Sick Kids Hospital the closure of schools, recreational programs and other public abuse reports once the restrictions on schools and Irwin Elman, Former Ontario places. Children’s health has been directly impacted by the daycares are lifted. Child Advocate, Global Strategic pivoting of healthcare systems to focusing on the needs of Champion, Until the Last Child adults and seniors during the pandemic; meaning that many • Promoting the resilience of children: including the vital services for children have been cancelled or postponed. provision of virtual and remote programming to ensure Emily Gruenwold, CEO, Children’s Healthcare Canada They are also impacted by the increasing economic pressures that children are supported with healthy active living and stress that their parents and other caregivers are facing through existing relationships with caring adults and Mary Jo Haddad, Chancellor due to work closures and job losses. All children are impacted, peers. The delivery of such programs must include of the Univ. of Windsor, and some are being particularly hard hit. flexibility in how programs are delivered, not just a Board Director of TD Bank Group blanket outburst of ‘virtualized’ programs. Children need & TELUS Kids growing up in poverty have limited access to nutritional to see adults who care about them through small group Christine Hampson, President, programs that would otherwise be offered in schools and interactions online, and this then reinforces the self- The SandboxProject they no longer have access to recreational supports that directed learning or exploration that they need now. Julia Hanigsberg, CEO, Holland would have been available through afterschool programs. Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital Children who experience family violence no longer have a We call on the federal government to invest $250 safe refuge at school, and more kids are at risk of abuse due million to address these priorities, including the Mark Hierlihy, President & CEO, to the increased economic pressures that their families are short, medium and long terms impacts of the Children’s Hospital Foundations of Canada experiencing. First Nations, Métis and Inuit children living pandemic on the wellbeing of kids in Canada. in remote and rural communities are particularly vulnerable We also urge the federal government to work directly Krista Jagaard, CEO, IWK due to overcrowded housing, lack of clean water, and limited with Indigenous organizations to fund their needs to Health Centre (Halifax) access to hospitals. support First Nations, Métis and Inuit children and Karyn Kennedy, CEO, Boost families. Furthermore, we urge the federal government to Child Advocacy Centre & Chair Since the outset of the pandemic, Children First Canada and work with the Provinces and Territories in a coordinated of the Canadian Network of Child our Council of Champions have been working directly with response and ensure that no child is left behind. Advocacy Centres the federal government, providing policy recommendations Alex Munter, CEO, CHEO to senior decision-makers and to Ministers whose mandates Lastly, we call on the federal government to hear directly Hospital include children to offer recommendations for action to from children and youth as to how they are impacted and Bruce Squires, President of mitigate the impact of the crisis on kids. to involve them in the decisions being made to improve McMaster Children’s Hospital their lives. Children aren’t simply people in need of help, We have been encouraged by initial investments made in they are citizens with rights. Dr. Holden Sheffield, Chief of frontline organizations like Kids Help Phone, foodbanks Pediatrics, Qikiqtani General and emergency shelters, and by the Prime Minister’s efforts There is nothing more important to Canadians than the Hospital (Iqaluit) to directly engage children through his press conferences survival of our children. Kids represent nearly a quarter Dr. Michael Shevell, Chair of and by answering questions from kids in conjunction with of our population and one hundred percent of our future. Pediatrics, McGill University Dr. Theresa Tam. We also acknowledge the tremendous Without immediate help, we risk jeopardizing their Health Centre, Pediatrician-in- supports from the private sector and communities in support childhood and the future of all Canadians. Chief at The Montreal Children’s of children and youth. These early efforts have brought much Hospital needed attention and resources to the plight of children and We urge the Government of Canada to act without delay Kathleen Taylor, Chair of have been greatly appreciated, but much more is needed if and ensure that kids receive the care and support they SickKids Foundation we are to make significant impact. need. Even prior to this crisis, Canada lagged behind our global peers when it comes to the health and wellbeing Dr. Michael Ungar, Canada With each day that passes, the toll of this crisis on children of our children, ranking in 25th place out of 41 OECD Research Chair in Child, Family worsens. As leaders in our respective fields, we serve and countries according to UNICEF. The COVID-19 pandemic and Community Resilience, Dalhousie University support millions of children from coast to coast to coast. is further threatening the physical and mental health of Collectively, we have identified three major priorities for our children, and we must act now to ensure that the 8 immediate investment that are currently lacking support: million kids in Canada can survive and thrive. • Protecting the physical and mental health of children: including scaling up and ensuring long-term sustainable Every single day matters in the life of a funding for virtual care for physical and mental health for child, and they cannot afford to wait.

the full joint statement is available at childrenfirstcanada.org 8 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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Editorial Letters to the Editor No exit ramps or short cuts are advisable if they Liberals fumbling gun control endanger the lives of Canadians: Larry Kazdan agenda, unfortunately e: “Unprecedented federal defi - Any additional federal debt incurred can Rcits sustainable in short term, say always be serviced; always. The Bank of he Liberal government has yet to in- the details. The way it was written, gun economists, but “exit ramp,” post-pan- Canada sets interest rates and can keep gov- Ttroduce its promised gun control legis- advocates argued, meant some shotguns demic planning needed now,” (The Hill ernment bond yields low. Also quantitative lation in this Parliament, but it’s already used for hunting would be captured under Times, May 4). Canada did not adequate- easing has shown that the central bank can managed to make a mess of what was the ban. Mr. Blair took to Twitter to say ly prepare for this pandemic, and those purchase any amount of outstanding bonds, supposed to be one of its signature fi les that wouldn’t be the case. who counselled damaging austerity in which case interest expense is returned to under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Gun control advocates and gun retailers should bear some responsibility. While the government as shareholder profi ts. Many of the provisions from the Liberals’ have also pointed to a number of military-de- the debt scaremongers have temporar- We don’t know how long the COV- last gun control bill, passed into law last signed or inspired semi-automatic rifl es that ily accepted robust government inter- ID-19 health crisis will last, nor how long June, have yet to come into effect. Though haven’t been included in the ban, such as the vention, they now push their same bad extensive government support will be re- that bill, C-71, was years in the making, the Soviet-designed SKS rifl e, or WK180-C. advice into the future. Instead of cutting quired. But we do know that, if necessary, government and RCMP were far from ready Even the implementation of the ban has expenditures prematurely, the govern- long-term defi cits are sustainable since to implement it when it was fi nally passed in been a mysterious mess. Mr. Blair and Mr. ment should keep families and business- the federal government owns a central the fi nal year of the last Parliament. Trudeau have contradicted themselves and es intact until COVID-19 is contained, bank which issues a sovereign currency. On May 1, the government took another each other several times in the past year on and prioritize a vigorous upgrading of No exit ramps or short cuts are advisable step, acting on a promise to ban “military- the question of whether the ban would be our health and social security systems to if they endanger the lives of Canadians. style” semi-automatic rifl es in Canada. enacted through legislation, which would face the next natural disaster that comes Larry Kazdan That promise had been at least a year go through scrutiny in Parliament, or an our way. Vancouver, B.C. in the making. , a former Toronto order in council, which would not. police chief and now Canada’s federal Mr. Blair and Mr. Trudeau spoke public safety minister, was assigned to publicly about a plan to use legislation look into the issue last year. He told The to implement the ban mere days before Globe and Mail last June that the Liberals government announced it would use an Canada should repeal its unilateral would run for re-election on a promise to order in council to bring it about. ban “military-style” rifl es. He also told The Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has economic and political sanctions Globe that the government should not hamstrung Parliament’s capacity to meet. allow current owners of those weapons to There is no reason the government had to e write to express appreciation for supplies, and COVID-19 medical support. keep them under a “grandfather” clause, implement this ban now, however, instead Wthe leadership the federal govern- This is the time for solidarity not exclu- but should buy them all back. of waiting until Parliament returned to its ment is demonstrating in response to the sion. … Let us remember that we are only On May 1, the government confi rmed regular operation. unprecedented challenges presented by as strong as the weakest health system in that it would indeed set up a “grandfather” Mr. Blair’s resume before entering the global COVID-19 pandemic. Spe- our interconnected world.” clause to allow owners to keep those guns politics suggested he had the chops to cifi cally, we applaud the government’s We believe that this crisis provides an if they wished, so long as they don’t use manage a task like this better than it has support of United Nations Secretary- opportunity for Canada to build on its or transport them. been managed. This Liberal PMO, on the General António Guterres’ call for a global commitment to a feminist approach to That announcement was cold comfort to other hand, has not proven itself especial- ceasefi re and the recent announcement of foreign policy, a robust women, peace, and gun control advocates who want those weap- ly adept at logistical management. $159.5-million in funding to support the security agenda, and the Feminist Interna- ons taken out of the hands of their owners. Polls show a majority of Canadians global COVID-19 response. tional Assistance Policy that supports the It’s unlikely to make the owners happy either, support gun control, and a ban on the most We join with others who share a voca- economic, political, and social empower- who presumably will be forced to keep their dangerous semi-automatic rifl es. It’s a pity tion to be peacemakers and a commitment ment of women and girls, and makes gen- “grandfathered” rifl es locked away forever. this government has made such a mess of to work for the health and wholeness of der equality a priority, for the benefi t of all The announcement looked even worse giving them what they’ve asked for. the human and created world. This call- people. Unilateral economic and political as pro- and anti-gun advocates dug into The Hill Times ing leads us to encourage Foreign Affairs sanctions discriminate against women and Minister François-Philippe Champagne the most marginalized: they hurt ordinary to demonstrate further global leadership people and have the most severe negative by ensuring that humanitarian assistance consequences on women, children, the is not impeded by economic and political elderly, the disabled, and those living in sanctions during this health crisis. impoverished communities. As civil society actors, we have active We ask that Canada demonstrate its relationships with partner organizations commitment to international and humani- and friends in Cuba, the Democratic Peo- tarian law in this time of particular crisis ple’s Republic of Korea, Gaza, Iran, South by repealing Canadian unilateral econom- Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, ic and political sanctions, and by providing working for a peaceful end to confl ict, the facilitation and support to Canadian and creation of conditions for reconciliation other INGOs providing humanitarian as- and peace, and the provision of the basic sistance in countries experiencing global needs for everyone, including women, chil- sanctions, embargoes, or blockades. dren, the elderly, and the disabled. Even We look forward to consulting with you when sanctions provide an exemption further on these concerns and providing mechanism for humanitarian aid, humani- you with more information as desired. tarian agencies still face challenges with Grace and peace to you and your staff fi nancial institutions blocking wire trans- as you continue to exercise leadership in fers to local partners. Given the threat that these unprecedented times. COVID-19 presents to the most vulnerable, Rick Cober Bauman it is essential that sanctions, embargoes Executive Director or blockades not block the delivery of hu- Mennonite Central Committee Canada manitarian assistance to civilian popula- Liz Bernstein tions in these and other countries. Co-Executive Director We lift up the words of UN Secretary- Nobel Women’s Initiative General Guterres: “I am encouraging the Michael Blair waiving of sanctions imposed on countries Executive minister—Church in Mission to ensure access to food, essential health The United Church of Canada

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Harper claimed his comments It is not as if Canadians quit More than half the plant generous, he is simply feeding a is were misrepresented and he was their jobs of their own accord, employees were infected, forcing stereotype that has no basis in trying to say was that Atlantic Ca- and there certainly is no new job a plant closure which is choking fact and is politically untenable. leaving, so he won’t nadians were subject to Ottawa’s waiting for them to fi ll. off the country’s beef supply. That Scheer is leaving, so he won’t culture of defeat, “I’ve never ever In most instances, when there single factory is responsible for have to answer in the next elec- have to answer in suggested that the people of this is a reluctance to return to work, 40 per cent of Western Canada’s tion to the claim that he considers the next election to region are responsible for the it is based on unsafe working beef production. Canadian workers lazy. region’s have-not status. conditions. Governments moved in quick- That explanation will be left to the claim that he “There is a policy culture of Canadian farmers have peti- ly to investigate and secure the his successor, whoever that might defeat at the federal level and tioned the government to approve food supply, as even the Golden be. But the anti-worker stigma considers Canadian that’s what we want to change,” temporary worker applications Arches were claiming they had to that he and his predecessor have he told a business group during a because the back-breaking work source their 100 per cent Cana- infl icted on the party will be very workers lazy. pre-election tour. involved in planting and harvest- dian beef elsewhere. hard to shake. But Atlantic Canadians did not ing is not compensated commen- Given the precarious situation And when it comes to election forget those comments, and for surate to the workload. of the Alberta economy, it is obvi- time, workers make up a very the last few elections, the party A minimum wage farming ous that an indefi nite shuttering important part of the population. has been struggling to overcome job is attractive to a Mexican would not work. The so-called 905-belt soccer that backlash. migrant who makes one-tenth However, how would most Ca- moms whose votes can swing an During the Justin Trudeau of that in his home country. It is nadians react if they were asked to election are often working at low- sweep of 2015, Liberals managed not attractive to a Canadian who return to work within two weeks to paying jobs in the transportation in- to pick up all the seats in Atlantic can usually work at a much less a factory that had seen 949 employ- dustry, at the Toronto International Canada, including some that had physically demanding job for ees infected with the COVID virus? Airport and in other low-paid hotel never voted Liberal in the history more money. As a workplace, Cargill is a employment where fl uency and of the country. The same holds true for work- magnet for immigrant, unskilled literacy in English is not required. Sheila Copps If the Conservatives have any ers in meat factories. The person labourers who don’t need to They are also the ones who Copps’ Corner hope of forming government, they who died at the Cargill plant near speak English or French to work are employed as personal service need to attract voters in the region. High River, Alta., was a 67-year- on an assembly line. workers, in the jobs that we all They also need to reach out to old Vietnamese boat person. Her It is also a place where union/ now recognize as life-saving and TTAWA—Andrew Scheer is ordinary people. Andrew Scheer’s family came to Canada as refu- management disputes and dif- life-threatening. Osounding more and more like comment last week that the fed- gees, and with little English, her fi cult working conditions make it These are the people who re- Stephen Harper. eral government’s programs were work options were limited. a less than attractive proposition ally need to work. And right now, Who could forget former derailing provincial efforts to get According to her husband, she for many Canadian workers. they need help, not insults. prime minister Harper’s claim people back to work will not help. enjoyed the work at Cargill, where So, when Scheer says Canadi- Sheila Copps is a former Jean that Atlantic Canadians were For most Canadians, federal ben- she and more than 900 other ans don’t want to go back to work Chrétien-era cabinet minister and suffering from “a culture of efi ts have been a lifeline in a world- employees contracted the COVID because they are receiving federal a former deputy prime minister. defeat”? wide crisis that has no precedent. virus while on the assembly line. government benefi ts that are too The Hill Times

Thanks to his decisive response to the pandemic, Ontario Progressive Conservative Conservative Premier Doug Ford has undergone a miraculous image transformation, going from the black sheep of the leadership candidates Conservative family to one of Canada’s most popular leaders. I’m just wondering how long it will be before someone suggests the face new challenges Conservative leadership race be halted so that Ford can be crowned as the AKVILLE, ONT.—Now that been out of people’s minds for a Now that world leaders new Tory federal leader, world leaders are beginning long time. O writes Gerry Nicholls. The to grapple with the thorny ques- And given how Canadians will are beginning to Hill Times photograph by tion of reopening their economies be preoccupied with their own Andrew Meade grapple with the thorny after weeks of COVID-19 lock- health and economic concerns, the question of reopening downs, it seems appropriate that Conservative leadership race likely the Conservative Party should won’t seem all that important. itself might have to go back to the Conservative family to one of their economies after also begin reviving their coma- Even diehard Conservative the drawing board to retool their Canada’s most popular leaders. tose leadership race. supporters might have a hard time communication strategies, revamp I’m just wondering how long weeks of COVID-19 Indeed, many prominent working up an interest in the race. their branding and redefi ne what it will be before someone sug- voices within the party and in Plus, the world is a much it means to be a “conservative.” gests the Conservative leadership lockdowns, it seems the media, citing alleged weak- different place today than it was And basically they will have to race be halted so that Ford can be nesses of lame duck Conserva- back in February. do all that on the fl y, which won’t crowned as the new Tory federal appropriate that the tive Leader Andrew Scheer, are Recall that back then the big be easy and might also be risky. leader. Conservative Party arguing the sooner the Tories pick issues of the day were protesters The other issue facing leader- Anyway, it’s going to be dif- a new leader the better. blockading railroads, Scheer’s ship candidates once they get fi cult for Conservative leader- should also begin As National Post columnist views on Gay Pride Parades and back on the campaign trail will be ship candidates to escape from Matt Gurney recently put it, “The Conservative leadership candidate their relevance. the shadows of their provincial reviving their comatose Conservatives need a better lead- Peter MacKay’s tweets. (Seems I say that because right now cousins. er than Scheer is willing or able like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?) the “rock star” Conservatives are Also, on top of all that, during leadership race. to be, and the Canadian people My point is, the COVID-19 not in the federal camp but in the the virus crisis all the candidates deserve an effectively led opposi- virus pandemic has given the provinces. will have to fi gure out how to tion—indeed, given the scale of Canadian political box a great Consider, for example, how take on a currently popular prime the emergency, they need one.” big shake and we just don’t know Alberta Premier Jason Kenney minister without making it look Yet, relaunching a leadership what things will look like inside has emerged during the COV- like they’re putting partisanship race after it has been mostly in when we fi nally open it up. ID-19 crisis as a champion for his ahead of the country’s interests. suspended animation for the past So basically, the Conservative region on issues ranging from the That’s going to be a tough task. few months will present serious leadership race will emerge from energy sector to gun control laws. So yeah, opening up the Con- challenges for the candidates. its dormancy to face a whole new Meanwhile, thanks to his servative leadership race will be For one thing, they’ll all have world, with a whole new set of decisive response to the pandemic, like opening up a portal to a new to fi gure out how to recapture the problems. Ontario Progressive Conservative political dimension. public’s attention. As they say, Accordingly, Conservative Gerry Nicholls Premier Doug Ford has undergone Gerry Nicholls is a communi- “out of sight, out of mind” and the leadership candidates and ulti- a miraculous image transforma- cation consultant. Post-Partisan Pundit Conservative leadership race has mately the Conservative Party tion, going from the black sheep of The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Politics Here’s a thought: what if Justin Trudeau never runs again?

Prime Minister Critics may niggle about who But in this season of Justin Trudeau, gets how much, but no one can pictured May 7, accuse the PM of not caring about political speculation, 2020, at his daily regular people, business and press briefi ng in industrial sectors. I think there is Ottawa, is literally In the process, he has become coming to the rescue the hero of students facing a another possibility of everyone in the summer of no work, and frontline worth thinking about. country, handing out pandemic responders, whose billions in federal crappy pay will now be supple- Rather than calling a funding designed to mented by Ottawa and the prov- keep things together inces in a $4-billion deal. snap and unnecessary until a vaccine Justin Trudeau is made to play for COVID-19 is Robin Hood. The Sheriff of Not- election, a move that developed, and an tingham, not so much. economic comeback When you bring in a fed- cost former Ontario is possible. By eral budget with a quarter of a premier David comparison, his trillion-dollar defi cit, compassion humanity in public and empathy at some point must Peterson his job in makes be supplanted by less warm and look like a deranged fuzzy traits. Cuts must be made 1990, what if Justin honey-badger, writes and taxes must be levied to pay Michael Harris. The for the new debt Trudeau has Trudeau never runs Hill Times photograph created—$10,000 for every man, again? What if he by Andrew Meade woman, and child in the country according to former NDP leader retires from public Tom Mulcair. defeat. Usually it’s three strikes novel, kill hundreds of thousands Secondly, it would smack of That is a lot of money—no life, and the party and you’re out. So with four of people, and virtually shut down even worse political opportun- matter how good the case may strikes, there was a chance that the world economy? ism—trying to capitalize on Justin be for spending it. I think the goes into the next the Liberal Party could disappear. As Scott Fitzgerald once Trudeau’s strong leadership PM would rather have someone The Liberals needed “Justin” observed, the rock of the world during the pandemic. With 65,000 else deal with the bill. There are election with a new to save the party of his father. is built on a fairy’s wing. So is it Canadians stricken by COVID-19, some interesting possibilities leader at the helm—as Since he had lived a life of great possible Canadians could be go- and nearly 4,500 dead, playing besides the obvious one, Deputy privilege, they were calling on ing to the polls just about the time politically off the pandemic would PM Chrystia Freeland—including both the Greens and him to do his duty. After that, for the second wave of COVID-19, be disastrous. Mark Carney, and Pierre Petti- Trudeau, it was like the old game complete with mutations, is ex- But in this season of political grew. Conservatives will? of hide-and-seek. Ready or not, pected to strike? Yes. speculation, I think there is anoth- It is also worth considering here I come. er possibility worth how much battering Trudeau I say this Deputy Prime Minister thinking about. has endured since the SNC- because there is Chrystia Freeland, Rather than calling Lavalin scandal, the blackface currently a lot of pictured March 27, a snap and unneces- fiasco, the heavily caricatured speculation about 2020, on the Hill. She sary election, a move India trip, and of course that Trudeau possibly is more of a general that cost former On- freebie to the Aga Khan’s pri- calling a fall elec- than a lieutenant in the tario premier David vate island. tion. Of course in Trudeau government. As Peterson his job in People forget something. politics, as in life, many others have noted, 1990, what if Justin Not only did Trudeau not want anything is possible. she is responsible for Trudeau never runs the job of PM, but getting it has Who would have again? What if he amounted to the total invasion of Michael Harris all the big-ticket items thought the U.S. now, including climate retires from public the private space of a naturally Harris economy would lose change, pharmacare, life, and the party free-spirited person. The love-in 20.5 million jobs in and Indigenous peoples. goes into the next phase of the job was fl eeting, the just 30 days, and That might be trust in election with a new rest has been Hobbesian—nasty, ALIFAX—Before Justin Canada two million a brilliant and talented leader at the helm— brutish and short. HTrudeau became PM, when of its own? April is, woman. It might also be as both the Greens After so much personal abuse, Gerald Butts was still riding shot- indeed, the cruellest an exit strategy, writes and Conservatives and with best buddy Gerald Butts gun for the hottest political penny month. Michael Harris. The Hill will? no longer on the spot to offer stock in Canada, when the Liber- Who would have Times photograph by If Trudeau has sage advice and a sympathetic als had only 33 seats in the House thought that a sit- Andrew Meade rebounded since ear, politics might not be as much of Commons, and it looked like it ting U.S. president losing his majority fun as it used to be. would take dynamite to dislodge would advise his government, it is be- Could that be why Chrystia Stephen Harper from power, I fellow citizens to inject disinfec- But only in the same way it is pos- cause he is made for his current Freeland, under the PM’s man- had a private talk with Canada’s tant into their bodies to kill the sible that Donald Trump might have role in the COVID-19 pandemic. date letters, is now the so-called future leader. coronavirus? an attack of conscience over his men- Empathy and compassion have “minister of everything”? She is Back then, I was curious to Who would have thought pro- dacity refl ex, greed, and corruption. always been his strong suit. They more of a general than a lieuten- know why someone who had sports would be either shut down Possible, but don’t hold your breath. are front and centre in his daily ant in the Trudeau government. openly admitted he was not ready altogether, or played in empty For one thing, it would be television briefi ngs. As many others have noted, for the leadership just a few stadiums and arenas? No Hockey, a stupendous tactical blunder The PM is literally coming she is responsible for all the weeks before, now thought he Football, or Baseball Night in for the Liberals at two levels. It to the rescue of everyone in the big-ticket items now, including was up for the job. What had sud- Canada—or anywhere else. would look like they were taking country, handing out billions in climate change, pharmacare, denly made him ready? Who would have thought advantage of the offi cial opposi- federal funding designed to keep and Indigenous peoples. That Without a pause, Trudeau anyone would set out in a cool tion before its new leader, to be things together until a vaccine for might be trust in a brilliant and explained how the party brass and collected way to gun down 22 chosen by Labour Day, had a COVID-19 is developed, and an talented woman. had changed his mind. After the people in rural Nova Scotia? chance to become a presence in economic comeback is possible. It might also be an exit strategy. electoral fi ascos of , Or that a virus from thou- the House of Commons. Cana- By comparison, his humanity in Michael Harris is an award- Stéphane Dion, and Michael Ig- sands of miles away would turn dians don’t usually reward foul public makes Donald Trump look winning author and journalist. natieff, they couldn’t take another everyday life into a Stephen King play. They prefer fairness. like a deranged honey-badger. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 11 Global Trump’s ‘Yellow Peril’ defence masks the West’s delay in grappling with pandemic

U.S. President Donald Trump boasts that he banned travel from China to the United States early, but, in fact, the United States was the 41st country to declare such a ban, on Feb. 2, 2020, writes columnist Gwynne Dyer. It was completely predictable that Donald Trump would try to blame China for the fact that at least 30 million Americans are unemployed and that nearly 70,000 Americans have already died of COVID-19. His polling numbers are down and the election is only seven months away. What else was he going to do? Blame himself? White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

COVID-19. His polling numbers local police to stop “making false ishing TWO MONTHS after that. Donald Trump’s attempt to shift Other East Asian are down and the election is comments on the internet.” Trump boasts that he banned the blame for a huge U.S. death only seven months away. What Six days later, the fi rst person travel from China to the United toll and a looming economic countries that had else was he going to do? Blame in Wuhan died of what we now States early, but, in fact, the disaster onto China is utterly himself? call COVID-19. On the same day, United States was the 41st coun- cynical and false. The problem experience of SARS That’s why we’re now get- Jan. 9, the World Health Organi- try to declare such a ban, on Feb. wasn’t a week’s delay in China; it understood the ting the good old “Yellow peril” zation (which Trump now vilifi es 2. And it was a very leaky ban, was a couple of months’ delay in defence, fresh from the late 19th as “China’s public relations agen- affecting only non-US citizens. America. seriousness of the century. As a memo sent out by cy”) announced that China had Another 40,000 U.S. citizens If it should turn out that the the National Republican Senato- reported the emergence of a new and permanent residents fl ew in fi rst human infections with CO- WHO warning and rial Committee to Republican coronavirus like those that caused from China during the next two VID-19 were due to a leak from candidates put it: “Don’t defend the SARS and MERS epidemics. months, many not being checked the Biosafety level 4 Wuhan Insti- promptly began Trump, other than the China So there was at least a week for coronavirus at all. tute of Virology, not at the Huanan diligent testing, Travel Ban—attack China.” when Chinese offi cials at the lo- Italy started locking down Seafood Market in the same city, The coronavirus now spread- cal or national level had the infor- some municipalities in the coun- it changes nothing. BSL4 labs tracing, and isolation ing death across the world mation and hesitated to publish it, try’s badly hit north in late Febru- (there are around twenty in the certainly originated in China. The partly because they weren’t sure ary, but no European country world) routinely work with dan- of infected persons. Chinese government itself said yet themselves. But only two days went into national lockdown until gerous viruses, because otherwise so, before it started prevaricating later, Chinese scientists pub- March 9. The United Kingdom we’d never develop defences after Donald Trump began using lished the full genetic sequence waited a further two weeks after against them. China as a scapegoat. of COVID-19, so that researchers that, until March 24. The United An accidental leak from a There was at least a week’s everywhere could start working States never did a national lock- BSL4 lab would be a rare and delay in late December when on potential treatments and vac- down, but most states had social very serious mistake, but that’s offi cials in Wuhan didn’t report cines. distancing policies in place by probably not what happened the outbreak to Beijing, fear- Other East Asian countries early April. in Wuhan, and in any case, it’s ing they would be blamed for that had experience of SARS Those even longer delays clear that no hostile intent was alarmism, or simply for letting understood the seriousness of explain why the U.K. and the U.S. involved. The U.S. national it happen. That’s when Dr. Li the WHO warning and promptly are on track to be the two coun- intelligence director’s offi ce has Wenliang wrote in a private began diligent testing, tracing, tries with the highest COVID-19 determined that COVID-19 “was WeChat group: “7 confi rmed and isolation of infected persons. death rates, but why did they all not manmade or genetically Gwynne Dyer cases of SARS were reported [to As a result, they never had to go wait so long. Why weren’t they at modifi ed.” Global Aff airs hospital] from Huanan Seafood into lockdown (South Korea has least setting up comprehensive That will not stop Donald Market.” had 250 deaths; Taiwan had six). testing, tracing and contacting Trump from scapegoating China, It wasn’t really Severe Acute China did a partial lockdown, but systems and making more ven- even at the risk of causing a new ONDON, U.K.—It was Respiratory Syndrome. It was a is now up and running again. tilators and protective clothing Cold War. Never mind the fate of Lcompletely predictable that new coronavirus closely related But then the real delay hap- back in January? Did they think the world. It’s the fate of Trump’s Donald Trump would try to blame to SARS, which had caused a pened, and it had nothing to do they were exempt? presidency that’s at stake here. China for the fact that at least much smaller but lethal epidemic with when China reported the That’s probably what they Gwynne Dyer’s latest book 30 million Americans are unem- in 2002. But Wuhan offi cials disease. The point is that Western did think, and their people are is The Future of Democracy (and ployed and that nearly 70,000 didn’t want to believe it, and on countries did nothing serious now being punished for their Work). Americans have already died of Jan. 3, Li got a warning from the about the pandemic for an aston- governments’ arrogance. But The Hill Times 12 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Comment

able have been treated as dispos- able. The federal government recent- ly addressed some of the problems exacerbated during the pandemic. It lowered eligibility requirements to access EI benefi ts and intro- duced new criteria for farmers to help safeguard worker safety, such as providing proper housing and accommodation in compliance with public health needs for physi- cal distancing and sanitization. While this response is encour- aging, much more needs to be done. The new support package covers temporary foreign work- ers who have lost their job due to COVID-19 lay offs, or who have had to stop working because of illness, but workers face barriers in accessing the benefi ts because Immigration Minister information about support is not , available in their language or pictured Nov. 20, 2019, requires a computer and internet, in Ottawa, is the minister which many don’t have. responsible for changing Also, the package does not any laws for migrant support workers who lost their workers in Canada. The status because they fell through Hill Times photograph by bureaucratic cracks. The federal Andrew Meade support package also does not guarantee compliance of public health directives on farms, in meat processing facilities, and at other workplaces. Canada must do the same. In Compromised individuals risk fact, Canada could go one step spreading COVID-19. The Cana- From disposable to further and grant all overseas dian government need only look workers permanent resident to Portugal for an effi cient and status. speedy solution to safeguarding the There was a time when this safety and security of these critical indispensable: providing is what Canada did. Up until workers and all Canadians: grant the 1960s, workers from abroad them residency status. They have who fi lled labour shortages were already been thoroughly vetted granted permanent residency prior to coming to Canada. upon arrival. Their services were Moving forward, give all foreign migrant workers needed, and they were regarded migrant foreign workers access as valued workers and future to permanent residency upon citizens. arrival as part of building a fair But in 1973, the Temporary and inclusive country. In 2019, the with a pathway to Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) federal government took steps in replaced permanent residency this direction by strengthening the and while the need for migrant caregivers’ pathway to permanent workers never abated, their work- residency conditional to having ing and living environments sud- completed two years of work in permanent residency denly became precarious. Canada. It must extend this pro- Under the TFWP, most workers gram to workers in all sectors. are tied to one employer. While the COVID-19 has shined a light recently introduced Open Work on the precarious employment of Canada could go one Permit for Workers at Risk pro- many essential workers, includ- vides workers with the opportuni- ing those from overseas. Granting step further and grant ty to leave abusive situations, the residency to migrant workers will onus is on the workers to provide demonstrate genuine apprecia- all overseas workers proof of abuse. Because there is tion for the services they provide, no guarantee the permit will be creating a pathway to citizenship permanent resident granted and fearing deportation and eliminating the systemic and the loss of the vital income barriers embedded in temporary status. that sustains their families, many foreign worker programs. workers remain silent and as a re- Now is the time for change. sult workplace abuses and injuries Connie Sorio is a leading advo- are seldom reported. cate for migrant rights in Canada. Opportunities to apply for As KAIROS Canada’s migrant permanent residency range from justice coordinator, she ensures Pictured at the Feb. 18, 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) diffi cult to impossible depending that temporary foreign workers’ press conference to announce that the government would replace the Caregiver on the occupation. For example, voices and positions are brought Pilot Program with two fi ve-year pilot programs to provide migrant caregivers with a under the new Caregiver Pilot to the table during roundtable pathway to permanent residence and the fl exibility to change jobs quickly and easily. Program, prospective caregiv- discussions and campaigns. She Members of Parliament in the photo include then IRCC minister, , and ers can apply but only after a has organized migrant worker (Scarborough Centre). Photograph courtesy of KAIROS gruelling and expensive process, delegations to Parliament Hill Connie Sorio while agriculture workers and and ministry offi ces, and round- Comment meat processors cannot, despite tables on policy issues related elderly, and at-risk Canadians re- the dangers posed by COVID-19 working for years and some- to their rights and welfare. Ms. ceive proper care, and that fami- are only a few examples. times decades in Canada. Until Sorio was born in the Philip- he COVID-19 pandemic lies have much-needed support. Recently, in an effort to safeguard recently, no workers could bring pines and moved to Canada in Treveals how foreign migrant The pandemic also enhances everyone’s health and safety, Portu- their families with them, a cruel 1989. She joined the ecumenical workers contribute to Canada’s the vulnerability of these vital gal took the unprecedented step of separation that has fi nally and movement in 1997 with one of the economy and society by doing workers. The cramped and often granting migrants, including migrant mercifully ended for caregivers, KAIROS’ predecessors, the Inter- the jobs that too few Canadians fi lthy living quarters of fi eld workers, resident status during the but not others. church Action for Relief, Justice want. Their work ensures that our workers, the limited access to pandemic, and providing full access For almost 50 years, human and Development. food industry thrives, that young, benefi ts, workplace abuses, and to health care and social services. beings whose work is indispens- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 13 Economy Canada will have to prepare for a much tougher competitive environment

The post-pandemic Canada’s Innovation Minister Navdeep world will be a much Bains, pictured on tougher world. But the Hill on April 23, 2020. The there’s little evidence government’s penchant for boastfulness only we are preparing for induces complacency, which we clearly it. If we don’t, we’ll be cannot afford. What a poorer country. we need is clear analysis, which is in short supply, and an ability to look for new innovation models, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

David Crane Canada & the 21st Century

ORONTO—In the post- Tpandemic world, Canada will have to prepare for a much tougher competitive environ- ment. Countries around the world will be focusing on creating competitive advantage in skills and technology for their future prosperity. The best jobs and the biggest gains in wealth creation will go to those countries that are most successful in developing the next generation of tradable goods and services. required the agency to establish ture at American universities, exceeds the cost of investment in short supply, and an ability to It is hard to be confi dent that a goal of reserving not less than and efforts to make the country required to keep it.” look for new innovation models. Canada is ready for this—or even 20 per cent of its total fi nancing, a more attractive destination for And, in contrast to Canada While discovery and invention recognizes how much tougher the or US$27-billion, to support U.S. knowledge talent from around the where businesses have been takes place largely in universities, world will be. exports that compete with China. world. In computer science, math- cutting investments in research innovation takes place in growth This tougher, competitive This meant not only matching ematics and engineering, nearly and development, business R&D companies. Yet Canada handicaps environment will likely be most Chinese export supports, but also 60 per cent of PhD holders in the performance in the U.S. has been growth. For example, Element AI, keenly felt by Canada from a targeting key U.S. industries to U.S. workforce are foreign-born rising steadily. Between 2010 and a Montreal-based artifi cial intelli- much more aggressive approach improve its competitiveness. (how many from Canada?). 2017, U.S. business performance gence company found that once it by the U.S. in technology invest- These industries are renew- These concerns over the in R&D rose 28 per cent, adjusted reached 500 employees, its R&D ment and world trade. This will able energy, wireless commu- economic security-national for infl ation. In Canada, adjusted tax benefi ts were reduced. Why not be an issue of who has the nications, biotechnology and security link are being voiced by for infl ation, R&D spending has would we do that? lowest corporate tax rates. It will biomedical sciences, semiconduc- American business leaders. David been fl at. Yet as the National Sci- Likewise, there are genuine be much more about investment tors, artifi cial intelligence and McCormick, CEO of Bridgewater ence Board states, “the strength concerns that university-based, in skills and technology, in the high-performance and quantum Associates, a fi rm that manages of a country’s overall R&D and taxpayer-funded development world of intangibles and data, and computing, water treatment and US$160-billion of pension funds enterprise—including both the of new knowledge and talent is about the new forms of business sanitation, emerging fi nancial and other institutional investors, public and private sectors of this benefi ting foreign corporations organization that emerge. technologies, space technology, is among those calling for a na- system—is an important marker setting up R&D branch plants For the U.S., this is being and advanced manufacturing. tional innovation strategy. of current and future national in Canada to create intellectual framed as a struggle of great At the same time, the National For example, “government economic advantage and of pros- property to benefi t their foreign- powers—U.S. versus China—with Science Board issued its Vision funding for early stage research pects for societal improvements.” based parent companies. What’s economic security essential for 2030 report. It voices concern that activities could yield signifi - Overall, while Canada’s public even more troubling is that the national security; the two being “the U.S. is playing a less domi- cant benefi ts at relatively low and private infl ation-adjusted Trudeau government has gone linked by science and technol- nant global role in many science cost,” he argues. “Research areas performance in R&D was fl at out of its way to attract foreign ogy. This is why innovation is and engineering areas than it did could include metamaterials, between 2010 and 2018, U.S. per- Big Tech to do exactly that. Why? becoming an even more impor- in previous decades,” while “U.S. bio-synthetics, energy storage, formance rose 23 per cent, after Out policies are also focused on tant policy challenge. While this K-12 student performance in sci- and bioengineering, as well as infl ation. encouraging start-ups and early- struggle will lead to much greater ence and mathematics is medio- manufacturing capabilities, such In Canada, we need a serious stage companies. But are we just investment by the U.S. and China cre and stagnant.” as advanced additive manufactur- examination of where we stand creating seed corn that foreign in the industries of the future, it While the U.S. had great ing or innovative computer-aided and what we need to do. We have corporations can come in and buy will also engage Europe, Japan, strengths in basic research, it said design tools enabled by high-per- to move beyond the boastfulness up for their IP and talent? India, South Korea, and Russia. more needed to be done to “en- formance computing. These are of Industry Minister Navdeep The post-pandemic world An example of this is the sure that discoveries are translat- high-reward, low-cost targeted Bains’ claims that Canada is a will be a much tougher world. series of consultations the U.S. ed into innovations” to “benefi t the investments.” And despite fi scal “global superstar” or a “world But there’s little evidence we are Export-Import Bank launched on U.S. economy.” It proposed greater challenges, the U.S. has to rec- leader” and get real. The govern- preparing for it. If we don’t, we’ll May 7, its “strengthening Ameri- actions to develop America’s sci- ognize that “greater innovation ment’s penchant for boastfulness be a poorer country. can competitiveness initiative.” ence, technology, engineering and will also require greater invest- only induces complacency, which David Crane can be reached at When the U.S. Congress re-autho- math skills (STEM), more invest- ment” and that “the cost of losing we clearly cannot afford. What we [email protected]. rized the Ex-Im Bank last year it ment in the research infrastruc- America’s edge in innovation far need is clear analysis, which is The Hill Times 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Ontario, your efforts to beat COVID-19 are making a difference. To stop the spread, we need you to continue to:

2 m

Stay home Practice physical Wash hands when possible distancing of at thoroughly least 2 metres and often

We need your continued determination and cooperation to stop the spread. COVID-19 can be deadly. Don’t put your family and friends at risk. Stay home. Stay strong. Save lives.

Learn more at ontario.ca/coronavirus Paid for by the Government of Ontario THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 15 Opinion

debt. The reversal of decades of economic globalization and inter- national supply chains will create Canada needs a national task force challenges for a trading nation like ours. We will need to revisit policies on health-care infrastruc- ture, strategic reserves of key on how best to reboot the economy supplies, and ensuring domestic production facilities for critical to one another like never before. rate trends down and as various underway between federal and medical equipment. Canada re- When it comes Our fellow Canadians are relying jurisdictions begin to restart their provincial governments. These quires a process to discuss these on collective effort to overcome economies, calls for an orderly governments will decide the transformational changes and to time for recovery, this crisis. reopening sector-by-sector and schedule—how to minimize the avoid stakeholders going off in Indeed, we are at our best region-by-region will inevitably risk of future spikes in cases, es- different directions. we will need broad when we work together. Over the grow. tablishing a system for testing, While no one can predict with engagement with past month, the Canadian Cham- Yet, as we prepare for recovery, tracing and responding to new any certainty the economic, politi- ber of Commerce and the Cana- Canadians must not forget the infections, worker guidelines for cal, and cultural changes that this governments, labour, dian Labour Congress united in collaboration and solidarity that personal protective equipment crisis will create for Canada and our crisis response efforts and got us to this point. That is why we and physical distancing, and how the rest of the world, we know businesses both large witnessed this truth fi rst-hand. are calling on the federal gov- to maintain consistent supply that they will be signifi cant. The We brought together labour ernment to strike a task force to chains across provinces. These high level of collaboration among and small across and business to help maintain develop recommendations on how are plans that, in normal times, governments, labour, businesses, sectors, public health relationships between employ- to reboot the economy. The sheer would take months to devise. and civil society in managing this ers and employees. We suggested scale of these decisions requires a However, the shortened crisis pandemic should give Canadians experts, Indigenous Canadians should receive income variety of perspectives, not least of timeline means that we need to confi dence about our collective supports when we could not which will be accommodating the develop a well-designed strategy ability to meet the challenges groups, non-profi ts, avoid job losses. We saw busi- varied needs of the vastly diverse within the coming weeks. ahead. nesses retool to make supplies sectors. When it comes time for A task force will help fi lter the None of this will be easy. No and academics. for frontline workers. Together, recovery, we will need broad best ideas and build consensus playbook exists to help guide us. we applauded companies that engagement with governments, across civil society when it is time Governments around the world provided free meals and facilities labour, businesses both large and for implementation. Industry-spe- are struggling to balance econom- for the long-haul truckers risking small across sectors, public health cifi c tables can ensure decision- ic needs with public health. their health to keep our supply experts, Indigenous groups, non- makers take the specialized needs Nevertheless, over the past few chains moving. profi ts, and academics. of each sector into account. weeks, Canadians have risen to While Canadians continue to While the decision on when to Over the longer term, this the task through collaboration, focus on supporting each other reopen rests with governments group can serve as an arm’s innovation and community spirit. today, we must also start looking and public health experts, the length external advisory commit- This is the momentum we need to over the horizon to the post-CO- timing will depend on civil soci- tee for government in order to power forward toward recovery; a VID-19 world and start planning ety’s ability to protect employees, contribute towards the creation task force focused on the well-be- how our country and economy customers, and the public at and implementation of a post- ing of all Canadians will provide Hassan Yussuff & Perrin Beatty can emerge stronger. large. We should start drawing up recovery economic plan. a necessary jumpstart. Opinion Partisan divisions are starting these plans now. Canada’s workforce will not Hassan Yussuff is the president to appear again after an all-too- The immediate goal is clear: be the same. The pandemic will of the Canadian Labour Congress. brief moratorium. Provinces are ensure the return to work is change how we live, how we work Perrin Beatty is the president and anadians remain physically considering going their own ways as safe and productive for the and how we use technology. We CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Cdistanced but the COVID-19 when reopening their respec- economy as possible. Indeed co- will enter recovery with sub- Commerce. pandemic has tied our well-being tive economies. As the infection operation on this front is already stantial new public and private The Hill Times

Manitoba celebrates 150 years, led by Manitoba Métis

ne hundred and fi fty years ago, Prime Minister Justin across the Métis homeland and for This year, the Métis Oon May 12, 1870, the Manitoba Trudeau, pictured June the opportunity to build a good life Act received Royal Assent and 13, 2019, with Crown- and envision a bright future. Nation, led by the became law. This act of the Cana- Indigenous Relations So today, let us remember the Manitoba Métis dian Parliament made Manitoba Minister , efforts, resilience and strength of Canada’s fi fth province, the only Manitoba Métis Federation the Métis Nation, one of Canada’s Federation, has province to join Confederation President David Chartrand, founding nations, and specifi cally through the actions of an Indige- and Métis President the Manitoba Métis community that prepared itself to nous people, the Métis. It’s a day to Clément Chartier. The brought Manitoba as the fi fth prov- refl ect on our past with celebration Hill Times photograph by ince into the Canadian Federation. ensure that Manitoba but also a day to look forward with Andrew Meade The Métis Nation and the 150 is celebrated, hope towards our future. Manitoba Métis community have This year, the Métis Nation, led so much to be grateful for. We are and the role of the by the Manitoba Métis Federa- It was the through the dedi- to take his seat. In fact, the Govern- a vibrant people, united by the tion, has prepared itself to ensure cated work of the provisional gov- ment of Canada placed a bounty on relationships with our fami- Métis people in that Manitoba 150 is celebrated, ernment and the determination his head of fi ve thousand dollars. lies, communities, and culture and the role of the Métis people in and vision of Louis Riel that de- However, the Métis Nation and throughout the Métis nation bringing Manitoba bringing Manitoba into Confeder- mocracy would prevail in the new the Manitoba Métis Government homeland. Our history represents ation is recognized by all Manito- province—no matter what race or have worked hard to fi ght for the both the trials and triumphs we into Confederation bans and Canadians. creed. Riel made sure that French respect that Métis people deserve as have faced together and our resil- is recognized by It is our goal to ensure that language and denominational the founders of this Province. And ience to look ahead to our future the role the Métis Nation played school rights were protected. He today, we can express our pride out- in the beautiful province of Mani- all Manitobans and in creating the beautiful province was a defender of minority rights, ward to all Manitobans, Canadians toba that we share with all other of Manitoba is both understood not just the rights of Métis. and to the world. Manitobans and Canadians. Canadians. and highlighted as Manitobans We know all too well that not To quote Louis Riel, in the Again, on behalf of the Métis and all Canadians celebrate this all the promises of rights in the second session of the Legislative Nation and Métis people across milestone year. Manitoba Act were respected. The Assembly of Assiniboia on April the Métis homeland, we wish all It was through the cour- guarantee of Métis land rights of 26, 1870, “We desire at all times to Canadians a happy Manitoba Day! age of Louis Riel and his Métis 1.4 million acres was not hon- hear public opinion, and, as far as David Chartrand has been at provisional government in 1869 oured, but nonetheless gave us possible, to be guided by it. Our the forefront of political leader- that the Métis were able to take the opportunity generations later wish is not merely to invite public ship for more than 30 years and their place in shaping Western to fi ght for those rights through confi dence, but to show ourselves president of the Manitoba Métis Canada’s future. The Canadian the courts and win. worthy of it by doing what we Federation (MMF) for 22 years. A government was encroaching We know that we endured a can to promote the welfare and renowned national and interna- westward and had taken the long, diffi cult period in Manitoba, prosperity of all.” tional ambassador and published legislative steps to assert its a time when Métis people were In the spirit of those words, the author, Dr. Chartrand has built a David Chartrand governance over the North-West not respected. Riel himself was Métis Nation vows to continue to comprehensive Indigenous gov- Opinion without consulting the people of elected three times to the House of work hard for its rightful place ernment in Western Canada. the North-West. Commons without being allowed in the province of Manitoba and The Hill Times 16 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Pandemic used as a cover for increased persecution of women human rights Virtual Care is the defenders globally

Future of Health Care di—have been kept behind bars in crowded Canada must live up to prisons where the coronavirus fl ourishes. The conditions for women political prison- promise of feminist foreign ers, already poor prior to the COVID-19 Delivery in Canada policy by putting women pandemic, are now deadly. In Colombia, feminist peace activist at centre of its global Carlota Isabel Salinas Pérez was murdered By Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway outside her home on March 24 after col- COVID-19 responses. lecting foodstuffs for families in need. In Yemen, the shelling of the women’s any Canadians had likely never heard the term “virtual care” before the COVID-19 section of the Central Prison in Taiz on April pandemic. Now it’s part of our lexicon, right up there with terms like “physical 5 left at least fi ve women and one child dead. Mdistancing” and “flattening the curve.” But when the pandemic is over and we stop The women who responded to this tragedy talking about physical distancing and flattening the curve, will virtual care be here to stay? are the same women raising alarm bells about the lack of clean water for Yemenis to Virtual care – connecting with a health care provider by email, phone or video call – has become protect themselves against the coronavirus. a necessity during the pandemic because in-person appointments at clinics and doctors’ offices The militarized response to the pan- are not safe or feasible. Health care providers across the country have been offering virtual demic favoured by some governments— options for all but urgent or ongoing care, such as check-ups for expectant mothers. including curfews and roadblocks, street Tracking by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) shows that, by the end of April, the proportion of policing and surveillance—only puts more visits that happened virtually rather than in-person had increased to 60 per cent – a dramatic jump Rachel Vincent women activists at risk of repression and from less than 20 per cent prior to COVID-19. The most common way to connect with patients Opinion imprisonment. Those who seek to silence was by phone (40 per cent), followed by video visits (11 per cent) and email/online chats (5 per women can more easily do so under the cent). For appointments specifically related to concerns about COVID-19, 23 per cent of Canadi- cover of the pandemic response. ans contacted their family physician, 19 per cent accessed the system through 811 or a telehealth eem Al-Ksiri is a Syrian-born lawyer Foreign Affairs Minister François- line, and 17 per cent reached out to a private sector virtual care provider. Rwho now lives in Vienna, Austria. Like Philippe Champagne recently highlighted this vulnerability and has expressed concern Prior to the pandemic, even though many Canadians had likely never heard the term “virtual care,” millions of other Syrians, she was forced from her home by war and the brutality of about “excessive use of force and violations their desire to connect with clinicians using modern digital technologies was already increasing. In a of fundamental rights and freedoms that 2019 survey, 63 per cent said they would like to connect with their care providers by email, 58 per a regime that instead of protecting its citi- zens has bombed, imprisoned and tortured have already occurred in some countries cent said they’d like to use SMS or an app, and 44 per cent said they’d like to use video calls. them. Reem works to release women cur- during the implementation of lockdowns.” Incidentally, in some clinical settings, patient satisfaction with virtual care is very high. Prior to rently imprisoned in Syria. She also works This is a good fi rst step, but Canada must the pandemic, for example, an e-visit pilot project delivered by the Ontario Telemedicine Net- to document and collect witness testimo- also live up to the promise of its feminist for- work (now Ontario Health) found that 98 per cent of patients felt an e-visit was the same as or nies from survivors in order to prosecute eign policy by putting women at the center of better than an in-person visit, 99 per cent said they’d use it again, and 92 per cent said it made and hold to account those responsible its global COVID-19 responses and initiatives. accessing care more convenient. It’s important to note that in primary care and specialist set- for human rights violations perpetrated Calling on countries like Iran, Syria and Ye- tings, virtual visits tend to work best when they support established doctor-patient relationships. against women prisoners. men to release detained women human rights Now, how COVID-19 is impacting defenders would send an important signal that With high levels of patient interest in, and satisfaction with virtual care (in certain clinical Canada is serious about human rights—in- settings), why were virtual visits relatively uncommon prior to COVID-19? There are a number women political prisoners in Syria is what preoccupies Reem. Currently, an estimated cluding now, during a global pandemic. of reasons for the low level of virtual consultations, including challenges with appropriate 7,000 women have disappeared with many Supporting local women’s movements tools and training for clinicians. However, physician remuneration was a very significant issue presumed to be imprisoned in Syria—held in confl ict zones is also critically impor- – most provinces and territories did not support payment for routine clinician use of virtual in over-crowed and unhygienic prisons. tant to ensuring that women activists are visits. When the pandemic struck, this critical issue was urgently addressed, out of necessity. In many war-torn countries around the protected while helping communities cope Today, all provinces and territories have billing codes in place for virtual care. world, the pandemic is being used as a cov- with the coronavirus and simultaneously The recent announcement that the federal government is investing $240.5 million to develop, er for the increased persecution of women working for peace. expand and launch virtual care and mental health tools to support Canadians, is also a hopeful human rights defenders and adding to their Finally, Canada must keep its eyes sign for the future of virtual care in Canada. We look forward to working with Health Canada already-heavy burden. Canada has been too on the bigger picture. Inexplicably, in and others to accelerate and support the roll-out of virtual care services across jurisdictions. slow to respond to these global threats. the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Canada lifted its moratorium on military Why is it so critical to keep moving toward virtual health care delivery after the pandemic is over? “[Syria’s regime] gets to say that the prisoners died of the coronavirus—not from exports to Saudi Arabia—a leading player In 2019, virtual care saved Canadians 11.5 million hours by not having to take time off work to torture, not from the bad conditions where in the protracted confl ict in Yemen, the attend in-person appointments. It also saved them more than $595 million in avoided travel costs. more than 20 people are in one cell,” Reem world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The And it resulted in a reduction of 120,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions – which is better for explained to me by telephone. “It is a form war has resulted in the death and injury everyone’s health. If we could sustain virtual visits at 50 per cent of primary care visits, we project of murder to target activists, and especially of thousands of civilians, and has led the annual savings of 103 million hours for Canadians, $770 million in travel costs, and 325,000 women activists, by keeping them in jail.” population to the brink of famine. metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. The women Reem seeks to free from Canada cannot be a global leader for Virtual care will never replace in-person appointments, and that is not the goal. Highly effec- Syria’s notorious jails are accused of peace while simultaneously supplying tive virtual care is intended to be complementary to traditional in-person care. “crimes” that otherwise should be called weapons of war. Indeed, Canada’s deci- civic engagement. They are jailed simply sion to keep the war machine going during And the evidence in favour of virtual care is clear. It’s a safe and effective means of care de- a global pandemic puts those working for livery. It can reduce pressures on our health system. Canadians want it and love it. It saves for protesting in the streets or organizing to put to an end to human rights abuses. peace, in particular women, at greater risk. time and money and it’s good for the environment. So when the pandemic is over and we What makes these women threatening is Now is the time for Canada to show true stop talking about physical distancing and flattening the curve, we must ensure that virtual Hill Times Spon Con.indd 1 2020-03-27 10:41 AMthe fact that they are women—and choose feminist leadership—let’s start by not allow- care becomes a permanent part of our lexicon and of health care delivery in Canada. to challenge the status quo. Predictably, ing COVID-19 to count human rights and the once in jail, they are subject to a range of pursuit of peace among its list of casualties. sexual violence, including rape. Rachel Vincent is the co-executive In Iran, authorities have released 85,000 director of the Nobel Women’s Initiative “low-level” detainees to prevent the spread based in Ottawa, a global organization of the novel coronavirus. However, many that works with grassroots women’s women political prisoners—including movements in confl ict countries. You can globally-respected human rights activists, follow her @Rachel_NWI. Nasrin Sotoudeh and Narges Mohamma- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 17 Opinion

Members of bloc states. Consequently, this Canada's Mali environment compelled the UN to peacekeeping send an international peacekeep- task force, ing force to the Balkans, where pictured June Canadians contributed a large 8, 2019, at part of the UN-led mission force Camp Castor and engaged in heavy combat in Gao. with Croatian Forces. Department Canadians were also greatly of National involved in UN-led missions in Defence Rwanda and Somalia, being at photograph by the centre of several scandals Corp. François and controversies. Along with the Charest signifi cant decrease in Canadian military expenditure and the increase in U.S.-led interven- tions, particularly in Afghanistan, Canada began limiting its contri- bution to UN peacekeeping mis- sions. Canada’s close relationship with the United States ensured its security, in spite of the decline of its moderating presence in world affairs. However, the emerging global shift in power poses a signifi cant threat to Canada’s security and prosperity. The decline of U.S. global power and the rise of Chi- na can be identifi ed as the main factors driving this shift. Amid the current period of transition, Canada’s economic diversifi ca- tion and future relationships with other emerging middle powers, such as the BRICS states, will become signifi cantly important. As a middle power itself, Canada needs to effectively compete for infl uence. These BRICS states are Canada needs to revive its currently contributing a sig- nifi cant number of troops to UN peacekeeping missions, including 249 Brazilians, 78 Russians, 5,404 Indians, 2,544 Chinese troops, and peacekeeping missions 1,151 South Africans. Moreover, with the Trump administration’s increased hostil- in securing then, with ity towards its European allies, In the quest to a seat at the the sharp rise Canada must in parallel intervene UN Security of Canadian and help to preserve the transat- gain a seat at Council. With peacekeeping lantic alliance. This also means the vote com- contributions, more troop commitments in the UN Security ing up this peacekeeping regional peacekeeping missions. Council, the revival June, Canada had gradu- In Cyprus for example, begin- will need at ally become ning in 1964, Canada contributed of peacekeeping least 128 votes a symbol 25,000 peacekeeping troops over that include of Cana- the decades. While the number missions is the most 54 African dian national of Canadian troops dramatically countries. In identity. The decreased after 1993, a small strategically prudent doing so, the $10 bill even group of Canadian peacekeepers prime min- featured a remain there amid continued UN and the least costly ister aimed female UN peace efforts. Today, with the rise alternative. Canada to fulfi ll his peacekeeping of Turkish regional adventurism, “Canada is soldier, under Canada can once again emerge has an opportunity to back” pledge the bilingual as the peace-broker in this region, back in 2015. writing “Au increase its peacekeeping troops, translate rhetoric into However, Service de la and deter a potential confl ict while this Paix/In the between Cyprus and Turkey. action prior to this direct appeal Service of Most importantly, while these was meant to Peace.” Dur- missions help strengthen Canadi- upcoming June. U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured April 7, 2020. The emerging global shift an credibility abroad, peacekeep- demonstrate in power poses a signifi cant threat to Canada’s security and prosperity. The decline ing the Cold the revival War, Canada ing missions have been less costly of U.S. global power and the rise of China can be identifi ed as the main factors compared to U.S.-led campaigns. of Canada’s driving this shift. With the Trump administration’s increased hostility towards ranked “middle fi rst as the With 125,000 peacekeeper deploy- its European allies, Canada must in parallel intervene and help to preserve the ments since 1948, Canada lost 130 power” transatlantic alliance. Photograph courtesy White House photographer Andrea Hanks dominating doctrine, the peacekeeping of these troops, compared to the prime minis- contributor 158 death toll during its interven- ter’s speech Since the Second World War, and provided tion in Afghanistan. In light of fell short of promising renewed Canada’s embrace of the “Middle 80,000 troops (10 per cent of all this, it is no surprise that such commitment to peacekeeping mis- Power” doctrine compelled it to UN troops) before 1988. missions have repeatedly been sions across the continent. In fact, increase its diplomatic presence Canada’s peacekeeping opera- endorsed by the electorate vis-à- following the recent conclusion of in international institutions. This tions continued during the post- vis the past two federal elections. Pouyan Kimiayjan Canada’s deployment in Mali, the effort was followed by expansive Cold War era. In point of fact, Henceforth, in the quest to gain Opinion country’s peacekeeping contri- peacekeeping missions. During Canada’s peacekeeping missions a seat at the UN Security Coun- bution returned to historic lows. the 1956 Suez Crisis, foreign min- increased signifi cantly during this cil, the revival of peacekeeping Currently, according to UN fi gures, ister Lester B. Pearson introduced period. The 1990s had ushered in missions is the most strategically ANCOUVER—Prime Min- Canada only contributes 45 troops the UN Emergency Force (UNEF), a new era, known as the second prudent and the least costly alter- Vister Justin Trudeau recently to UN peacekeeping missions the organization’s fi rst interpos- generation of peacekeeping. Dur- native. Canada has an opportuni- spoke to an audience of African around the globe. In comparison, ing peacekeeping force. This ing this period, there was an un- ty to translate rhetoric into action diplomats in Ottawa and high- Ethiopia tops the list with 6,639 accomplishment, which contrib- precedented level of cooperation prior to this upcoming June. lighted the importance of bilateral troop contributions. These num- uted to the peaceful withdrawal with the Security Council. The Pouyan Kimiayjan is a re- ties between Canada and African bers refl ect the staggering decline of British, French, and Israeli collapse of the Soviet Union had search associate at the Institute states. The goal was to garner their in Canada’s middle power status, forces from Egypt, won him the created power vacuums and civil for Peace and Diplomacy. support for Canada’s campaign particularly in Africa. Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Since wars across many former soviet- The Hill Times 18 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion The post-COVID-19 Canada’s leadership

In this context we ask: is there an oppor- To hand over to current The challenges brought tunity for Canada to pivot to a low-carbon en- and future generations a ergy economy? What creative approaches and legacy of well-thought-out on by COVID-19 present fi nancing mechanisms should be considered investments in clean-energy to support a concrete plan to evolve Canada’s technologies would be a a unique opportunity to post-COVID-19 economy to a leadership posi- decision of minimum regret. pivot the country away from tion by developing a clean energy sector that By ensuring investments are is also in compliance with the government’s directed toward deployment of dependence on the oil and commitments to reduce carbon emissions un- sustainable, low-carbon energy der the Paris Agreement and—better still—to resources and the necessary gas sector for our economic meet our aspirational targets? supporting infrastructure, we can exploit our collective well-being. Acknowledging the failures innovation capacity to become global leaders in sustainable The scientifi c consensus is clear: climate energy in the long run, write change is undermining the ecological systems Jatin Nathwani and Raynier on which all forms of life depend, as well as Ramasra. Photograph courtesy our social and economic well-being. CO- of Pexels.com VID-19 has been an unwelcome intrusion in our lives; the climate threat will remain cen- tral to the debate on how to sustain economic be a primary goal. This would ensure that the electrifi cation around the world and a move growth without undermining the bio-physical return on investments can make a meaningful toward non-carbon generation will eventu- environment. Addressing the climate threat contribution to service the debt. ally have an impact on demand. It is therefore Jatin Nathwani & Raynier Ramasra requires a far-reaching consideration of the Another proposal—a “cap and invest” prudent for policy-makers to take a broader value we place on land, natural resources, and strategy—involves the creation of an envi- view of projects that can be funded. If com- Opinion the existing and emerging industrial infra- ronmental trust, seeded by the government mitments are made now, these projects are structure systems integral to economic activ- and funded by a nominal consumption tax, capable of delivering non-carbon-based ity. We need to build in resilience to ensure we that would avoid issues of funding by taxing energy solutions on a large scale within the ATERLOO, ONT.—Conventional wis- don’t get caught fl at-footed yet again because carbon-intensive production. This trust would 2025–2035 time frame. Wdom would suggest that government we ignored early warning signals. be operated transparently and independently Viable large-scale renewable energy proj- budgets should alternate with economic The carbon-tax versus cap-and-trade from the government, with clear fi nancial ects can provide a powerful stimulus to eco- cycles: surpluses during economic expan- debate is an intellectual trap that has drawn and environmental targets. Unconstrained by nomic activity for remote parts of the country sions and defi cits during contractions. In the needless political heat, including court chal- cyclical political interference, the trust could while also expanding the non-carbon genera- past, deviations from this approach have led lenges from provinces unhappy with carbon take the long view for technology develop- tion capacity. The development of the Mack- to subsequent fi scal challenges for Canada; taxes. A simple, honest question needs to be ment and industrial investment. As invest- enzie River into a large-scale hydroelectric profl igate federal and provincial spending asked and answered: can relying solely on a ments mature, the fund could potentially complex, similar in scale to Quebec’s James through the 1970s and into the early 1990s price signal address the challenge of climate become self-perpetuating, removing the need Bay development, would add 13,000 MW of led to debt in excess of 100 per cent of GDP change mitigation on a massive scale? for a tax altogether. Templates for this type capacity with a project cost of $114-billion and necessitated signifi cant spending cuts For a problem of such a magnitude of arrangement exist today: both the Canada and an estimated annual return on investment in the mid-1990s to reduce the debt and as- and national importance, we have allowed Pension Plan and the Government Pension of 16 to 28 per cent, depending on the market sociated servicing costs. The current federal ourselves to be imprisoned within a narrow Fund of Norway are examples of solutions where the electricity is sold. A pivot toward government returned to defi cit spending frame of discussion. One dominant view—i.e., to inter-generational obligations and wealth geothermal energy production could also be while the economy was still expanding, “Give me a price on carbon, and the market distribution challenges that could be applied achieved in Alberta by leveraging the techni- which reduced the available fi scal capac- will yield the right results”—is not the whole to inter-generational climate challenges. cal expertise in geology and drilling of the oil ity when the COVID-19 pandemic began. story. This view is both correct and incor- The government might also consider and gas industry. A modest diversion of even With interest rates already near historic rect: the evidence on what has been achieved exploring public-private partnerships, shar- fi ve percent of the $40-billion-plus annual de- lows, current monetary capacity to stimulate through carbon pricing shows mixed results, ing risk with private sector companies as a ployment of capital in the oil and gas sector, the economy is also diminished. Yet while if not outright failure. We need to challenge means to further develop infrastructure. These if redirected toward geothermal exploration no serious voice would suggest the govern- the effi cacy of the two pricing instruments, partnerships could be used for a variety over a three-year time frame (in the order of ment stop its current efforts to sustain the even as we move the discussion to additional, of infrastructure projects similar to transit $5-billion), and if matched by the government economy, the politicians and policy-makers complementary measures that could prove initiatives and health facilities, but they could either as a loan guarantee or a stake in the eq- who will be tasked with addressing Canada’s helpful. If we are to gain broad social accep- also be used to further enhance the electricity uity, would lead to the creation of an entirely future fi scal situation likely have not yet tance for the cost obligations of climate miti- grid or to build a network of electric vehicle new industry in Alberta and could become a begun their careers. gation, we need to pay much more attention charging stations, preparing the country for signifi cant economic engine by the end of the The longer the lockdown and physical to the consequential, but unequal, impacts on electrifi cation while eventually generating re- decade. An additional near-term benefi t of the distancing measures with the associated different segments of society. turns for the treasury. Federal loan guarantees geothermal option for Alberta is immediate economic disruption continue, the more We need to expand the range of policy op- on capital-intensive projects form a power- deployment of the oil drilling rigs that are not intractable the challenge for the revival of the tions available to governments. ful fi nancial incentive for the private sector fully utilized because of a drop in exploration economy. The impasse is signifi cantly differ- to partner with the government while the activities driven by current global market ent from previous shocks and bubbles in that Mechanisms to invest regulatory environment evolves. Sharing in conditions. it is not credit-, asset- or commodity-driven. Beyond the context of the immediate research, development and construction costs Canada has made signifi cant prior invest- Rather, it bears similarities to the cascading initially opens the door for sharing in design ments in wind electricity generation; however, northeast electricity blackout of 2003, in the “hyper-urgency” of the COVID-19 crisis, the need remains for actions and commitments licensing and production profi ts later. challenges with intermittent production have scope and scale of the disruption across that been offset by expanding natural gas produc- region of North America, although that dis- now to avoid locking today’s fi scal capacity into a business-as-usual oil and gas depen- Beyond oil & gas tion. Taking a greater research and investment ruption lasted only two days. If the economy interest into companies and universities pur- dency. We identify a number of options to Looking over the horizon of large-scale were a train, it was brought to a halt through suing larger and higher-effi ciency electricity enable an energy transition for Canada. capital investments 30 to 50 years out, it is the month of March, and while fi nancial mar- storage technology, including the potential Several options exist for the government clear that as public and political pressure kets may rebound quickly through monetary for hydrogen, could accelerate development to revive the economy. We might take lessons come to bear on emissions and as consump- policy and fi scal infusions, it may take much in these areas and further reduce prices. Re- from policies enacted during the New Deal of tion patterns evolve (for example, moving longer for the momentum to return and for search and investments in emerging Genera- the 1930s. The Reconstruction Finance Cor- away from gasoline to electric cars), the small businesses and households to recover tion IV nuclear technology and small modular poration is one example of a Depression-era demand for fossil fuels will decline and the confi dence. In early April, it was reported reactors have the strong potential for meeting institution that led the way toward prosper- longer-term viability of many fossil fuel that the federal defi cit would reach $184-bil- diverse needs of industry for process heat as ity. A similar Crown corporation, investing extraction investments will come into ques- lion, and that Canada’s largest six lenders well as electricity supply for remote mining public money into private enterprises, with tion. While the need for petroleum is unlikely had processed mortgage deferrals on 10 per operations and communities. The existing limited political intervention and focusing on to entirely disappear this century, due to its cent of their portfolios. The toll this pandemic expertise of Atomic Energy Canada Limited will take on public fi nances and prospects for prudent capital investments of public money use in petrochemicals, plastics, and fuels for economic growth is not yet clear. that return dividends to the treasury, should airplanes and heavy machinery, increased Continued on page 19 THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 19 Opinion economy: fi nancing in sustainable energy

ing and artifi cial intelligence research, and permanent expansion of remote work. With historic stimulus packages currently deployed Continued from page 18 development of new algorithms and heuris- a dramatic change in the structure of global comprise the fi rst steps in stabilizing the could be repositioned to conduct research on tics for smart grids that tackle the problems economic production—driven by information economy and preventing a vicious cycle of any number of designs to expedite their com- in forecasting, load balancing, storage and and communication technologies, combined unemployment and defl ation from taking mercial viability. reliability, all on a massive scale and featuring with a shift to electric mobility—long-term hold. To hand over to current and future gen- Other major non-energy projects that millions of participants with their own usage demand for oil will remain sluggish, even erations a legacy of well-thought-out invest- could be developed include the Northern patterns and constraints. Intelligent man- with economic recovery. Countries that are ments in clean energy technologies would be Ontario Ring of Fire. This development agement of the demand side of the energy able to produce oil at a lower cost—and a decision of minimum regret. By ensuring would bring broad economic impacts to equation, whether through improvements in Alberta’s oil is not a low-cost resource—have investments are directed toward deployment an underdeveloped region and diversify energy effi ciency or creative urban planning the competitive advantage for meeting the of sustainable, low-carbon energy resources Canada’s resource extraction away from that optimizes the use of Canada’s electric lower levels of global demand. Consequently, and the necessary supporting infrastructure, oil and gas, while offering employment to mobility with energy usage in commercial as the world moves away from fossil fuels, we can exploit our collective innovation ca- many in that industry. At the same time, and residential buildings, will create path- resulting in a credible scenario of “demand pacity to become global leaders in sustainable investments in research and large-scale ways to new economic value and engagement destruction,” and competitive advantage goes energy in the long run. remediation projects to address deforesta- of a highly skilled labour force. to low-cost producers, there is a very real Jatin Nathwani is a professor and the tion and environmental damage created by It might be tempting to further expand danger of Western Canada’s reserves becom- founding executive director, Waterloo In- mining and fossil fuel extraction projects, the oil and gas industry, but this would be a ing stranded assets, leaving the industry stitute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) who as part of the reckoning of the true cost of direction away from the arc of history. For entirely incapable of paying its remediation holds the prestigious Ontario Research Chair these activities (estimated for oil sands to be example, Western Canadian Select is a heavy costs. Any additional investment to expand in Public Policy for Sustainable Energy at the as high as $260-billion), can be addressed as crude oil, trading at a discount compared the oil sands now is, at best, an irresponsible University of Waterloo. Raynier Ramasra is part of a serious commitment to move away to West Texas Intermediate and Brent. The endeavour. At worst, it is the expansion of a senior research fellow with the Waterloo from fossil fuel extraction and use. economic disruption from the pandemic a fi nancial and environmental burden that Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) and has led to an oversupply of oil and a steep should not be passed on to future genera- is a leader in data science and decision sup- Toward a post-COVID-19 decline in prices. While the immediate effect tions. port with experience in banking and energy is temporary, prices may never fully recover, The challenges brought on by COVID-19 policy. This paper was published online by economy even when countries emerge from lockdown, present a unique opportunity to pivot the the Balsillies School of International Affairs Canada has technical expertise in a due to signifi cant changes in consumption country away from dependence on the oil and (BSIA). variety of areas that include machine learn- habits—for example, the possibility of a gas sector for our economic well-being. The The Hill Times

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

Unlike 1918, today, robots, designed by engineers, are Engineers among at the front lines, working alongside health care professionals to the hidden heroes prepare meals at hospitals, treat patients and, spray disinfectants to amid pandemic clean surfaces. Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on With the help of data Any mention of the tragedy that was Unsplash unfolding was avoided and people had analytics and predictive little knowledge of either the numbers of people who succumbed to the Spanish fl u models, medical or the extent that it infected people glob- ally until much later, after it was over, and professionals are able to the numbers were counted. In 1918, the return of soldiers from the understand more about war fronts, the migration of refugees and COVID-19 including the mobility of women engaged in “extra domestic” activities favoured the rapid the environmental and spread of the virus. Today, airplanes and high-speed trains geographical details that are are ubiquitous and allow people to move over large distances in short periods of germane to the disease as time. These many dimensions of modern society have made us dramatically more well as the people who are connected to each other, more than at most at risk. any other time in human history. But the magnitudes of inter-connectedness are also what has made us considerably more vulnerable to a pandemic. THANK YOU In Canada, most of us have smartphones that make it possible for everyone (from teenagers to adults) to access and gener- ate information in real time and personally witness the heartbreak that is occurring as PARLIAMENTARIANS, COVID-19 unfolds both across the globe but also in our local communities. Self-isolation in 1918 was a much lone- Mary Wells lier experience than it is today. Lacking FOR HAVING Opinion communication technologies, people suf- fered the 1918 pandemic largely in private without the support of friends and neigh- ATERLOO, ONT.—What would our bours and with little to entertain them and EVERYONE’S BACK. Wshelter-in-place COVID-19 experienc- take their minds off their constant struggle. es be like in Canada without engineering Unlike 1918, today, robots, designed by technology advancements such as smart engineers, are at the front lines, working phones, Zoom, Amazon, or Netfl ix? What alongside health care professionals to pre- would the mortality outcomes of COVID-19 pare meals at hospitals, treat patients and, The COVID-19 pandemic has called for be without technology advances in health spray disinfectants to clean surfaces. Today, care that have allowed us to decode the with the help of data analytics and predic- unprecedented federal support for consumers novel coronavirus genome in a month, tive models, medical professionals are and businesses alike. Canada’s insurance brokers access geospatial information systems to able to understand more about COVID-19 help pinpoint areas of infection, and the including the environmental and geographi- take this opportunity to thank you. use of ventilators to treat critical patients? cal details that are germane to the disease Engineers are some of the people as well as the people who are most at risk. behind these technological developments; Today, diagnostic tools to effectively Learn more at ibac.ca their role in society is to connect scientifi c screen large populations are under devel- and technical knowledge to societal needs. opment using AI-powered systems that can Although engineers are not the front-line help identify people who might be infected medical responders who put their lives and who they have been in contact with. at risk each day in our fi ght against the All of these, and many more, are technol- COVID-19 pandemic, they are some of our ogy developments that are helping to man- hidden heroes whose work is critical to age and control COVID-19 that were not support people both as they endure this available in 1918 during the Spanish fl u. pandemic as well as save people’s lives in After this pandemic is over, many high this race against time. school students will start to imagine what Because of these technological advanc- career they would like to pursue in the es, we are more equipped now than in any future. Many will remember with well- other era to respond to a pandemic. deserved admiration, the important, self- During the 1918 Spanish fl u pandemic, sacrifi cing, and lifesaving roles our health there was neither a cure nor a vaccine for care workers and fi rst responders played the disease nor the ability to manage the in putting their own lives at risk to get undertaking of mandatory quarantine or us through the COVID-19 pandemic and self-isolation. Lacking the technology we aspire to become members of these profes- have today, there was no way to curb the sions. However, let’s not forget the engi- spread of the Spanish fl u, which killed neers, our hidden heroes, whose work has, more than 50 million people and caused and will continue, to help tremendously more than 500 million infections world- to support these front-line workers in our wide. society’s ability to overcome the COVID-19 In 1918, there were very few cars, no pandemic and ensure we are much better highways, no air travel. In terms of com- prepared to face future pandemics. munication, there were limited telephones Mary Wells is the dean for the college and people relied primarily on newspapers, of engineering and physical sciences at leafl ets and the radio to receive informa- the University of Guelph and the incoming tion. Typically, a white scarf tied to a door dean of the faculty of engineering at the of a house was a sign to alert the commu- University of Waterloo. nity that there was a virus residing within. The Hill Times HILL TIMES MAY 11, 2020 RESEARCH & INNOVATION How the scientifi c community started its own COVID-19 response P 22

Canada needs a pandemic innovation strategy P 23

Why Canada needs to deepen Investing in Fast funding, fast decisions, its commitment to SGBA+ in fast research, and later, a research and policy our scientifi c need for a pause P 28 entrepreneurs P 28 for ‘The Great EU-Canada research, Rebuilding Canada’s tapping into innovation teamwork P 26 ingenuity of businesses key in global and manufacturers to COVID-19 fi ght Who should help fi ght COVID-19 P 24 P 30 we really be Impact together: Dalhousie testing for Capability-centred innovation researchers and the in post-pandemic Canada COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19? more important than ever P 27 P 29 P 26 22 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Research & Innovation Policy Briefi ng

Mona Nemer, next steps. The group included Dr. chief science Bourque, Dr. Moriarty, Eoghan adviser to Moriarty, Krishana Sankar (then Prime Minister a graduate student at UofT who Justin Trudeau, had to take a break from her pictured on volunteer work to successfully de- March 23, fend her dissertation), Mr. Foote, 2020, speaking and a few others. with reporters Mr. Foote told the group at a COVID-19 about the work he was doing on media briefi ng a reagent database for the NRC. in the West Wanting to avoid duplication, Mr. Block on the Foote took the lead on the reagent Hill. Dr. Nemer tracking from Dr. Bourque. mandated the Dr. Sankar started a Slack creation of channel, a place for a team to the CanCOVID share messages, tools, and fi les, expert network and where everyone could partici- on March 23, pate. She made channels accord- 2020. The ing to specifi c research areas, but Hill Times each channel is open to whoever photograph by wants to join. She now provides Andrew Meade strategic advice and runs commu- nications for the project. The participants decided to merge Dr. Moriarty’s volunteer form and database with the reagent tracker and put it into a single resource for anyone wish- ing to access it. How the scientifi c community On March 23, Fatima Tokhmaf- shan, a geneticist at the Mon- treal Children’s Hospital and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre who started its own COVID-19 response worked with Dr. Bourque, joined and brought her pre-existing line to get ahead of the shutdown expertise, for free, in the fi ght Dr. Bourque then turned to volunteer network of McGill Some 4,000 people, she knew was on the horizon. She against COVID-19. Twitter to see if any of this work students. She developed her list pulled her mother out of a long- At the same time, Dr. Mori- was already being done. Just after noticing many of the same from scientists, to term care home, a potentially life- arty was thinking of ways to help, before 6 p.m. on Friday March 20, problems at the hospital. saving move, and is now well into Dr. Guillaume Bourque, director Dr. Bourque posted a tweet ask- Just six days after the initial web developers, her second month as her mother’s of bioinformatics at the McGill ing if there was an appetite for “a meeting, on March 27, the group to architects, have primary caregiver. Genome Centre and professor of website to help people in Canada launched covid19resources.ca In conversations with Ca- human genetics, and Dr. Anne- doing #COVID19 R&D to fi nd re- (COVID Resources Canada). The volunteered their nadian colleagues involved in Claude Gingras, senior investigator agents, resources and expertise.” core group still has daily hour- diagnostic testing, she said it at Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research A tweet storm ensued, with ac- long Zoom calls and members time to help Canada became apparent that “there were Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital ademics, graduate students, and communicate on a shared Slack a lot of problems, there was lots and professor of molecular genet- scientists from all over Canada workspace. fi ght COVID-19. of help needed,” if Canada was to ics at the University of Toronto, offering their expertise. The fi rst resource in what properly prepare for the virus. noticed another problem with Simon Foote, a bioinformat- has since become an over-4,000 person, and still growing, volun- BY AIDAN CHAMANDY Lacking any information on a Canada’s readiness: reagents. ics researcher at the National government response and want- Dr. Gingras was developing a Research Council, also offered to teer network of experts working together to fi ght COVID-19 was ara Moriarty, an infectious ing to help, in mid-March after serology test for COVID-19 and help. the WHO declared the COVID-19 needed more reagents. On the “At the NRC, we just got a new born. The project expanded from Tdisease researcher at the humble beginnings to a cross- University of Toronto, knew some- a global pandemic and after a morning of March 20, Dr. Gingras mandate to assist where needed restless night, Dr. Moriarty said emailed Dr. Bourque, who has ex- with COVID19. Has anyone country collaborative effort draw- thing bad was coming. ing in expertise from the public In late December she started she called her brother, Eoghan perience in mass data collection jumped on the website request. If Moriarty, a solutions architect, during his work with the Cana- not, I’m ready to help,” he tweeted and private sectors, those within paying close attention to news government and those without. from China of a novel coronavi- and the two got started on de- dian Epigenetics, Environment late on March 20. veloping a volunteer form and and Health Research Consortium The next morning, a small It helped inform the creation and rus, just as the rest of the world ongoing work of the CanCOIVD was enthralled with the U.S. database where they could sign (CEEHRC), and asked for his group of interested experts con- up people willing to provide their help. vened for a Zoom call to discuss platform, a network mandated assassination of Iranian General by Chief Science Adviser Mona Qassem Soleimani and the poten- Nemer to “expedite communica- tial consequences of a standoff tion and collaboration between between the world’s pre-eminent the scientifi c, health care and superpower and a Middle Eastern policy communities during the power broker. COVID-19 crisis.” The two online By late January, she was resources now form a compli- particularly interested by devel- mentary and essential part of opments in Germany, where col- Canada’s expert-led COVID-19 leagues in the science community response. were putting calls out for anyone Having evolved in just six with experience in diagnostic weeks from the original two- testing and other infectious pronged approach, COVID disease-related disciplines. Resources Canada now also has “I hadn’t heard about any an updated list of funded research large-scale response in Canada,” opportunities, databases of scien- Dr. Moriarty said in a phone tifi c publications on COVID-19, of interview with The Hill Times on new and effective experimental May 6. The Canadian infectious results and protocols, of diagnos- disease research community is tic information, and hundreds of fairly small, she said. Given the direct links to local community size of the community and her support initiatives. connections, Dr. Moriarty said At the time of writing, more she thought she would have heard than 4,000 people have signed of a large-scale effort to combat on to help. Volunteers are now the nascent virus had there been overseen by four regional manag- one. Lacking that information, ers: one each for Atlantic Canada, she decided to act. Quebec, Ontario, and the West Dr. Moriarty said she began (which includes the territories). moving some of the functions of Matthew Hacker-Teper, a gradu- her laboratory, where she nor- mally studies Lyme disease, on- Continued on page 29 THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 23 Policy Briefi ng Research & Innovation

and the Innovation Initiative) in avoidance Minister Navdeep Canada and Canada needs a of restrictive Bains, pictured READDI patent rights. Jan. 28, 2020, on (Rapidly Far from be- the Hill, recently Emerging ing radical, applauded Ontario Antivi- proactive pandemic the world researchers for ral Drug refl exively not only rapidly Discovery turned to isolating the Initiative) open science COVID-19 virus interna- during the but sharing it tionally. innovation strategy COVID-19 openly with VIMI and crisis. In- the world. He READDI novation, tweeted: ‘Open will develop Unfortunately, the odds of fi nding a game- Science and science is key to inexpensive •Knowing that we will face changer from among existing drugs is Economic global efforts to drugs to much too low for comfort, and there is no Develop- treat and prevent fi ght the pandemic risks from well- guarantee that a vaccine will work or that ment Minis- the spread of coronavirus understood viral families, we can manufacture enough of it in time. ter, Navdeep COVID-19.’ that causes So, in addition to these high-risk approach- Bains, The Hill Times COVID-19, such as infl uenza and es, we need to develop anti-viral drugs, just applauded, photograph by as well as as we did to control HIV/AIDS. for example, Andrew Meade emerging coronavirus, we could have Canada and the world made a tactical Ontario viruses error in failing to build public capacity to researchers that might proactively invented anti- develop novel antivirals, preferring instead for not only rapidly isolating the COVID-19 cause future pandemics. Together, we to hand off drug discovery and develop- virus but sharing it openly with the world. will work openly to identify drug targets, viral drugs that prevent ment to the private sector. The fl aw in He tweeted: “Open science is key to global develop anti-viral drugs for viral families and treat the diseases they this logic is that the private sector has no efforts to treat and prevent the spread of with pandemic potential, and test them in incentive to invest in drugs for emerging COVID-19.” early clinical trials. These new drugs will cause. Yet no one invested viral threats that may never occur. Open science shares skills and re- sit “ready” to be rapidly deployed to treat Pandemic prevention is possible, but sources across sectors, reducing individual COVID-19 or a future pandemic. They will in these eff orts. we need a shared strategy, leadership, and risk and the overall risk of failure. It avoids be created as public goods. coordination among industry, universities, duplication because everyone knows what Our open science approach is exactly what government and philanthropy. Because of everyone else is doing while it provides the world needs right now to fi ght pandemic prior investments in world-leading open the basis for rapid and effective valida- viruses and avert the personal, social and •We are not waiting for science institutions such as the Structural tion due to full transparency. Not relying economic costs of both the virus and its conse- others to give us a green Genomics Consortium (SGC), Canada is on any one fi rm or sector, it is a strategy quent far-reaching public health measures. poised to lead the world in implementing that can adjust quickly in light of changing E. Richard Gold is a senior fellow at light to move ahead: a different strategy: the creation of global, incentives and priorities. While eschewing the Centre for International Governance interconnected and coordinated non-profi t patents, it can ensure high quality drugs, Innovation; Tania Bubela is a professor catalyzed by scientifi c companies that put access to effective, low- low pricing, and access through existing and dean of the faculty of health sciences cost drugs over profi t. Examples exist in regulatory mechanisms. at Simon Fraser University; Aled Edwards leadership and seed other health fi elds of such an approach, for We are not waiting for others to give us is chief executive of structural genom- investment from the example, in malaria and sleeping sickness a green light to move ahead: catalyzed by ics consortium and professor, faculty of and some rare cancers. scientifi c leadership and seed investment medicine at the University of Toronto; and University of North Carolina Given the need to transcend national from the University of North Carolina John Bamforth is director of the Eshelman borders, the model for these new non-profi ts and the SGC in 2019, we are creating an Institute for Innovation at the University and the SGC in 2019, we are is founded on open science: openly shared international network of interlocked non- of North Carolina. creating an international data, tools and materials, open publications profi ts, VIMI (Viral Interruption Medicines The Hill Times network of interlocked non-profi ts, VIMI (Viral Interruption Medicines Initiative) in Canada and READDI (Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery We’re all in this Initiative) internationally. together BY E. RICHARD GOLD, TANIA BUBELA, ALED EDWARDS, & JOHN BAMFORTH

he COVID-19 crisis points to a hole in TCanada’s pandemic preparedness. In the wake of the 2003 SARS crisis, Canada created the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to strengthen and coor- dinate responses to public health threats. Universities are joining forces with PHAC has exercised national leadership governments, businesses and to safeguard Canadians during COVID-19. But responsiveness is not enough. For communities across Canada to slow research and development, Canada needs a the spread of COVID-19 and develop proactive pandemic innovation strategy in anticipation of pandemics. a vaccine, support students and The World Health Organization and Canadians in need, and get critical other international bodies have warned for years that new viruses will emerge and equipment to healthcare providers. cause pandemics. Knowing that we will face pandemic risks from well-understood viral families, such as infl uenza and coro- navirus, we could have proactively invent- ed anti-viral drugs that prevent and treat the diseases they cause. Yet no one invested in these efforts. Learn more at Instead of preparing, we now fi nd our- selves scrambling to repurpose old drugs, univcan.ca/covid19 develop new ones and compress a dozen years of vaccine development into one. 24 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Research & Innovation Policy Briefi ng

ready pledged within hours of the launch of the conference—with the fi nal amount expected to sur- pass the goal. The EU and Canada were among the major contribu- tors, pledging € 1.4 billion and CAD $850-million respectively. Leading up to the conference, the EU and Canada had reiter- ated, in a joint statement, their strong support for the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness network (GloPID-R) and the Co- alition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in internation- al efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines, among other initiatives. Like the EU, Canada is also contributing considerable support to its domestic research and innova- tion activities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more than CAD $1-billion in support of a COVID-19 national medical research strategy in April, in addition to a CAD $275-mil- lion investment for coronavirus research and medical countermea- sures, already announced in March. Strengthening EU- Canada partnership on research and innovation The current crisis also pro- vides an opportunity to further enhance a very dynamic bilateral On May 4, the EU joined research and innovation coopera- forces with Canada, France, tion between the EU and Canada. Germany, Italy, Spain, the In July 2019, Prime Minister United Kingdom, Norway, Trudeau announced a budget of Japan, and Saudi Arabia, to up to CAD $50-million over the host the launch of a high- following fi ve years to support level pledging conference, Canadian participation in Hori- the Coronavirus Global zon 2020 and/or Horizon Europe Response Initiative, writes programmes. This is the fi rst Brice de Schietere. Image dedicated funding that Canada courtesy Pixabay has allocated to research collabo- rations with the EU, at the federal level, and represents a critical steppingstone in upgrading scien- tifi c relations. The funding is made available EU-Canada research and innovation to Canadian researchers through the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s (NFRF) International stream. As a result, in January teamwork key in global COVID-19 fi ght 2020, the Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) launched the 2020 Horizon Global t seems like a lifetime ago that on a full-scale long-term recovery borders. It is a global challenge Platform Competition, opening On balance, all Iwe were going about our every- plan to be unveiled this summer. that needs strong international applications for the fi rst CAD $10 day business and then, suddenly, This shows that, in this situation, cooperation. million in funding to Canadians conditions are in we found ourselves in the middle there can be no half-measures. who want to work with Horizon place to maximize of a health and human crisis of Research and innovation Coronavirus global 2020. In the announcement, 34 exceptional scale and speed. efforts will play a crucial role eligible calls for project proposals our joint eff orts and Despite the initial surprise, in fi nding effective solutions to response initiative have been identifi ed for the fi nal the EU and many other jurisdic- contain and neutralize COVID-19. On May 4, the EU joined forces year of Horizon 2020, including continue to lead tions across the world have, in the Initially, over €380-million has with Canada, France, Germany, research on migration, forest fi res, last few weeks, taken measures been mobilized by the EU to Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, supersonic aviation, and biofuels. together in the fi ght that would have been unthink- develop vaccines, new treatments, Norway, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, Within the current context, able only recently, to contain the diagnostic tests and medical sys- to host the launch of a high-level this new mechanism could, in against COVID-19. It’s virus, to keep well-functioning tems to prevent the spread of the pledging conference, the Corona- principle, also provide support to another opportunity global food supply chains, and coronavirus and to save lives. In virus Global Response Initiative. Canadian COVID-19 projects for to address a sudden and severe particular, €48-million have been Through this initiative, the EU collaborations with EU-funded for Canada and the economic downturn. granted to 18 projects involving and its partners are taking the ones. In fact, the two sides are Since the outbreak, the EU 151 research teams from across lead in the effort to rally global already coordinating their actions EU to work more has been working on all fronts the EU and beyond to work on support and attract fi nancial through a regular exchange of in- to contain the spread of the developing better monitoring sys- contributions to bridge the fund- formation with a view to promote closely than ever. coronavirus, to support national tems to control the spread of the ing gap and to secure a high-level linkages between researchers en- health systems, and to counter virus, rapid diagnostic tests, new political commitment for an equi- gaged in respective projects. The the socio-economic consequences treatments, and new vaccines. table access to therapeutics and objective is to strengthen existing of the pandemic. As an imme- The European Commission vaccines, leaving no one behind. networks and to identify potential diate response, the EU and its also recently launched a data The goal is to make sure a viable new collaborations. member states have implemented platform to enable the rapid vaccine becomes available and On balance, all conditions unprecedented economic support collection and sharing of avail- affordable for all countries. are in place to maximize our packages by putting up €3.3-tril- able research data in Europe and World-leading scientists and joint efforts and continue to lead lion to fi ght the consequences around the world. And, at the end health experts set a goal to raise together in the fi ght against CO- of the pandemic—the strongest of April, a #EUvsVirus hackathon €7.5-billion (CAD$11-billion) in VID-19. It’s another opportunity response ever to an economic gave rise to over 2,000 pioneering efforts to address the immediate for Canada and the EU to work crisis. But our work doesn’t stop solutions to fi ght the outbreak. need to develop solutions to test, more closely than ever. Brice de Schietere here. A lot more is needed for The EU is now leading the treat and protect people, and to Brice de Schietere is the char- Opinion us to put our economies back on charge, with global partners such prevent COVID-19 from spread- gé d’affaires at the Delegation of track to sustainable growth. The as Canada, for an even stronger ing. While the event runs until the the European Union to Canada. European Commission is working response. The virus knows no end of May, €7.4-billion was al- The Hill Times

26 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Research & Innovation Policy Briefi ng

As the pandemic knocks the world to Investing in our scientifi c its knees, ‘The Great Rebuilding’ is upon us, and it requires all of us to collaborate and rethink the entrepreneurs for fundamentals of our economy to emerge more resilient and forward thinking than ‘The Great Rebuilding’ ever before. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Scientists’ deep emerge more resilient and for- take their idea from lab to mar- too. Similar to how private indus- technologies and adapting their ward thinking than ever before. ket. Boston has the same number try and donors in the U.S. have business models and solutions to knowledge is integral to With COVID-19, what becomes of PhD graduates in STEM areas launched fast grants programs to fi ght the pandemic. clear is that we have no choice as Montreal but has 10 times the accelerate COVID-19 research, Our economy will no longer innovation and startup but to speed up innovation by in- number of scientist-led startups. our government can lead in look the same as it did just a vesting in scientifi c entrepreneur- While certain initiatives like creating new fi nancing frame- few short months ago. Scientifi c success—we stand to ship. We stand to benefi t from the Quebec Entrepreneurship works and innovate in developing entrepreneurs need federal and enhancing collaboration between Program (QCSE) and university liquidity solutions for our fast- provincial governments to give benefi t from scientifi c industry, researchers, government incubator programs are doing a growing tech startups. This holds them a stable foundation through entrepreneurship to and top-tier talent in Canada to lot to expose these scientists to especially true in complex fi elds targeted investment opportuni- develop both immediate solutions entrepreneurship, we need to of- such as genomics, life sciences, ties. In turn, they will launch build a more prosperous for the pandemic and long-term fer alternative funding opportuni- and artifi cial intelligence—all of successful Canadian companies plans for our economic stability. ties designed to support their leap which are set to defi ne the bur- that create jobs and contribute and resilient Canadian We must not underestimate the into the uncertainties of running geoning bioeconomy revolution meaningfully to a prosperous and ability of our brightest talent to a startup. Building a successful in the next decade. resilient economy—speed is of the economy. bring viable solutions to market company is diffi cult, especially We can see a lag among Que- essence. and their impact in building a in a STEM industry where it can bec’s SMEs in adopting emerging Xavier Henri-Hervé is the prosperous future. In Canada, we take over three years to get to technologies like AI and robotics, founder and director of District 3 have a major and untapped re- market and earn revenue. The compared to other provinces and Innovation Centre at Concordia source: researchers and scientists recent NRC-IRAP programs for countries. That’s where startups University. Concordia Universi- with PhDs. contributions to payrolls of tech come in: they are agile and can ty’s District 3 Innovation Centre On average, PhDs spend about startups is a brilliant start, but quickly adjust to unexpected nurtures and develops multi- fi ve years meticulously develop- it is insuffi cient. Venture capital challenges to pivot their solu- disciplinary teams and scien- ing their expertise and doctoral funding is already down by ten tions, work with Quebec SMEs, tifi c entrepreneurs that harness thesis, which they then defend percent in the fi rst quarter of this and meet market needs. emerging technologies to create in front of a panel of esteemed year and will likely drop to 50 We have a tremendous op- businesses with global impact. academics, the ranks of which per cent in the coming year, while portunity. Canada can be a global Over the past six years, they Xavier Henri-Hervé they are unlikely to join. These traditional avenues are similarly leader and reach new heights by have supported over 600 startups Opinion positions were scarce before contracting. recognizing new categories of in- working with emerging tech- COVID-19 and will likely be even The Canadian ecosystem novation and giving our research- nologies. The fi rst of its kind in less accessible for the foreseeable needs a long-term fi nancing ers and scientists the fi nancial Canada, the centre has recently ONTREAL—As the pan- future. mechanism to allow scientifi c springboard to bring their ideas launched the Biohub, which Mdemic knocks the world to Montreal is one of the world’s entrepreneurs to cross the R&D to market. What inspires me dur- provides state-of-the-art dry and its knees, ‘The Great Rebuilding’ largest student cities, but de- startup’s valley of death in areas ing this unprecedented crisis are wet laboratories for scientifi c is upon us, and it requires all of spite the lack of opportunities in outside traditional funding cat- the countless scientifi c entrepre- entrepreneurs to collaborate with us to collaborate and rethink the academia, only about one out of egories. We must recognize that neurs across Quebec and Canada industry and prototype solutions. fundamentals of our economy to every 100 PhD holders opts to their journey is now our journey who are leveraging emerging The Hill Times Capability-centred innovation in post- pandemic Canada more important than ever ments have enabled us to continue connectedness and collaboration collaboration from the private sec- priorities for the country. To identify The post-pandemic to be productive and social. Howev- among the top R&D funders and tor will have a negative impact on businesses with core capabilities ‘new normal’ is still er, we often overlook the fact that performers is a key attribute of the Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Our required to succeed in these dif- the reason a signifi cant percentage Canadian innovation ecosystem. priority, therefore, must be to ensure fi cult times, the Conference Board being determined. of Canadians can work remotely is For example, businesses funded that we fi nd ways to shorten the of Canada is currently developing that they are part of a “knowledge- over $1-billion in R&D at post- implications for R&D and prepare a capability-centered innovation However, it is clear that based” economy. secondary institutions. This type of our businesses, especially small and framework (CCIF). The new frame- The success of knowledge- collaboration, coupled with a pro- medium-sized businesses (SMEs), to work will provide insights to poli- it will be more digital based economies is inextricably gressive support system (e.g., intel- remain engaged in innovation. cymakers on how best to leverage linked to effective innovation lectual property regime), continues Additionally, Canada’s post- and protect Canadian assets (e.g., than ever before. ecosystems. Interactions and to propel Canada’s knowledge- secondary education sector businesses, not-for-profi ts). CCIF collaborations among key actors based economy forward. is going through a signifi cant assesses core business innovation (i.e., higher education institutions, The current pandemic may transitory phase. Universities and capabilities and identifi es SMEs businesses, and government agen- cause signifi cant disruption to the colleges are at the heart of the that are innovation resilient, i.e., cies) determine the quality of an innovation ecosystem. The federal innovation ecosystem. They are most likely to scale-up and survive innovation ecosystem. In Canada, government has been proactive in leading performers and funders post the current pandemic. we have established a sophisticat- extending additional support to the of R&D, sources of new innova- The post-pandemic “new normal” ed set of policies, funding mecha- system. It has announced several tive startups, and educators and is still being determined. However, nisms, collaboration platforms, signifi cant measures, such as addi- trainers of the future workforce. it is clear that it will be more digital and anchor institutions that allows tional funding through the National Academic institutions are cur- than ever before. A more digital us to compete globally. Research Council of Canada Indus- rently facing fi nancial uncertain- world will expedite the pace of Harry Sharma For example, in 2019, we con- trial Research Assistance Program ties from two different directions: innovation, and Canada is well-po- Opinion ducted over $35-billion in research and regional development agencies. R&D partnerships with the private sitioned to play an important global and development (R&D) as a coun- However, private sector invest- sector, and the expected downturn role. We must continue to support try. The post-secondary education ments in R&D remain a critical part in international student recruit- our innovation ecosystem and en- igitization has become a real- and business sectors performed of the ecosystem. Given signifi cant ment due to travel restrictions. sure that we identify and protect our Dity for Canadians a lot quicker the bulk of this activity. On the declines in revenues due to CO- As two primary components of key fi rms and intellectual assets. than the experts would have funding side, the primary sources VID-19, the private sector will need the innovation ecosystem face the Harry Sharma is director of predicted only a few weeks ago. of R&D support are businesses, the to change priorities, and possibly headwind due to COVID-19, the innovation and technology at the Digital cafés, Google meet-ups, and post-secondary education sector, at the cost of supporting R&D. Any protection and growth of the eco- Conference Board of Canada. other virtual remote work arrange- and the federal government. Inter- reduction in funding support or system must become one of the top The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 27 Policy Briefi ng Research & Innovation Impact together: Dalhousie researchers and the COVID-19 pandemic

to combat misinformation, stigma and It is a pivotal time for fear. There is unique research underway research and innovation in into the effects of public health policies on the social and economic burden on individ- this country, with results uals, particularly those from marginalized or historically underserved populations. that will yield real and life- The Dalhousie community is also sup- porting our health-care sector by using our changing impacts. on-campus tools, our industry partnerships, and our innovation and entrepreneur- ship skills to revolutionize the production of equipment and the prediction of the course of the disease. From developing new polymers that can be used to manufacture masks, to using 3D printers to help create personal protective equipment for frontline workers, to modelling the spread of the dis- ease and potential mitigation strategies, our researchers have stepped up to the plate. Alice Aiken & David Anderson These initiatives align with Dalhousie University’s steadfast approach to health Opinion research, which is grounded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to Researchers at Dalhousie University quickly answered the call to combat the virus and became ensure our discoveries have impact on our ALIFAX—When news emerged late part of an extraordinary global effort to study COVID-19 and arrest its spread. Of critical local, regional and global landscapes. last year that a new and deadly virus importance is the research being done to develop a potential vaccine, write Alice Aiken and David H It is a pivotal time for research and in- was spreading through parts of China, re- Anderson. Image courtesy Pixabay novation in this country, with results that searchers around the globe began a quest will yield real and life-changing impacts. to learn more about the new disease and The response hasn’t stopped there. allow physicians to direct patients to ap- This innovative research would not be ultimately develop a vaccine. Dalhousie immunologists Dr. David Kel- propriate treatment in a timely manner. possible without strong relationships with It soon became clear that addressing vin and Dr. Jean Marshall, with $1-million Dr. David Kelvin is part of the Canadian our partners in government, academia and the complexity of the novel coronavirus, from CIHR, are conducting in-depth serol- COVID-19 Research Network and is col- industry. By working together, we are help- COVID-19, would require researchers on ogy studies identifying biomarker signa- laborating with scientists around the globe ing to make Canada a leader in research all fronts, from virologists to epidemiolo- tures in COVID-19 patients that will predict to demonstrate the critical importance of worldwide. gists to social scientists, who would tackle the course of disease progression. They are international co-operation in tackling such Alice Aiken is the vice-president of diffi cult questions about how the world also developing a point-of-care device that profound problems. research and innovation at Dalhousie would contend with a pandemic of unprec- can be used by emergency room and criti- Teams at Dalhousie are also examining University. David Anderson is the dean edented magnitude. cal care physicians to quickly predict the the social and cultural factors that contrib- of the faculty of medicine at Dalhousie Researchers at Dalhousie University disease severity of patients with COVID-19 ute to public knowledge and perceptions University. quickly answered the call to combat the infections. That critical information will of COVID-19 and to develop strategies The Hill Times virus and became part of an extraordinary global effort to study COVID-19 and arrest its spread. Of critical importance is the research being done to develop a potential vaccine. Dr. Alyson Kelvin, a virologist at Dal- housie, is on the front lines of that effort and is focused on fi nding an effective model for COVID-19 vaccine studies and therapeutic investigations. She is work- ing with a pan-Canadian team to develop a vaccine that can be tested in humans as Nous traversons soon as possible. The Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN), headquartered at Dal- cette crise housie, is also playing a vital role in the race to discover a COVID-19 vaccine after receiving a signifi cant boost in federal ensemble funding late last month. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1.1-billion national strategy for medical research into COVID-19, that includes awarding CIRN $10.3-million over two years and $5-mil- lion a year thereafter. Dr. Scott Halperin, a Les universités unissent leurs efforts à pediatric infectious disease specialist and principal investigator with the network, ceux des gouvernements, des entreprises will work with a team to conduct vaccine- et des collectivités de partout au pays related research and clinical trials while enhancing Canada’s capacity to monitor pour ralentir la propagation de la COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness. et trouver un vaccin, appuyer les étudiants Dr. Halperin and his Dalhousie colleague Dr. Susan Kirkland, head of the Department et la population canadienne dans le of Community Health and Epidemiology, besoin, et procurer le matériel essentiel have been invited to be part of the COV- ID-19 Immunity Task Force, also announced aux fournisseurs de soins de santé. by the prime minister last month. And, having received a Canadian Insti- tutes of Health Research (CIHR) operating grant of nearly $1-million, Dalhousie’s Dr. Shelly McNeil, an adult infectious disease specialist, is able to enhance her work Complément d’information au in sentinel surveillance and viral shedding univcan.ca/fr/covid19 to determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of confi rmed and suspected hospitalized cases of COVID-19 infection. 28 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Research & Innovation Policy Briefi ng

survival, as well as on social and noracial group and socioeconomic economic impacts of the pandemic status are also critically important. Why Canada needs to deepen and our response. As an example, Socioeconomic factors can affect data analyses have consistently risk of viral exposure and ability demonstrated that men, if infected, to effectively self-isolate and avoid its commitment to SGBA+ in are more likely to die than are transmission to others. In the U.S., women. A range of theories have racial inequality data in multiple been proposed—from hormonal regions have shown a clear excess effects to testicular viral reservoirs of deaths within the African- research and policy to gendered behaviours such as American population. Whether or smoking—and identifying causal not racial or ethnic inequalities ex- roles and potential treatment impli- ist in Canada, and whether those include dimensions of biological cations will require a careful disag- vary across sex, gender, age, and In COVID-19 research, we need to not only sex as well as social gender. For a gregation of factors. Detailed sex- socioeconomic status is something decade, researchers applying for and gender-based analyses will not we cannot know without fi rst col- identify sex diff erences, but also which funding from the Canadian In- only inform our understanding of lecting the necessary data. dimensions of biological sex or social gender stitutes of Health Research have disease causation and progression, SGBA+ analyses will be criti- been asked whether and how but may support development of cal not only to understanding the play a causal role in infection, development their proposed studies address new treatments, and guard against clinical picture of disease and sex and gender, though this has preventable social inequalities. informing treatment, but to pro- of severe disease, and survival, as well as on only recently become a required The second essential compo- viding a base for examining and evaluation criterion. nent of SGBA+ is the plus, which mitigating social inequality in in- social and economic impacts of the pandemic For epidemiologists, health denotes an intersectional expan- fection. This virus is unlikely to go and our response. services researchers, and health sion to our historic focus on sex away anytime soon. Unlike SARS, economists, application of SGBA+ and gender, acknowledging that we were not able to contain it, methods requires innovation. their effects may differ across and even if we develop a safe and are only as good as the research This is particularly true in the ages, ethnoracial groups, socio- effective vaccine, we may not be evidence on which they are based, two areas that extend GBA to economic statuses, or other social able to eradicate it. We know that it is time for a deepened commit- SGBA+: expanding consideration determinants of health. A founda- infectious diseases tend to settle ment to sex- and gender-based and measurement of dimensions tional tenet of intersectionality is into patterns within a population analysis plus, or SGBA+. of sex and gender (the “SG” part that experiences for those at an in- that further disadvantage the Gender-based analysis (GBA) of SGBA+), and incorporation of tersection of social positions may already disadvantaged. We will has been offi cial policy in Canada intersectional approaches that be fundamentally different from best be able to understand and for the past quarter century. In allow for sex and/or gender ef- the sum of their parts. In epide- intervene against any such future response to the 1995 Beijing Dec- fects to vary across other social miological studies, this means that patterns if we establish a fi rm evi- laration and Platform for Action, identities or positions (the “+” in we just cannot assume that the Greta Bauer dence base early in the pandemic. Canada adopted the Federal Plan SGBA+). This latter area acknowl- health and health-related experi- Now is the time for a stronger Opinion for Gender Equality, mandating edges that these effects may not ences of older Indigenous men, integration of SGBA+ across gov- a GBA approach to federal policy be the same across the whole of for example, can be understood ernment, academic, and industry aimed at “assessing any potential a population, and promotes the by researching and then adding research to inform understanding ONDON, ONT.—The CO- differential impact on women and study of heterogeneity. together the average effects of be- of biological, behavioural and LVID-19 pandemic has brought men.” In 2011, Status of Women In COVID-19 research, we need ing an older person in Canada, an social factors in COVID-19. data limitations into sharp focus, Canada added a plus, with GBA+ to not only identify sex differ- Indigenous person, and a man. Greta Bauer is a professor of as the high stakes of public health, acknowledging the need for inclu- ences, but also which dimensions Addressing the “plus” in CO- epidemiology and biostatistics at social, and economic policy have sion of other social identities and of biological sex or social gender VID-19 research will require some Western University, and a CIHR become apparent. Because evi- positions. Within the health sec- play a causal role in infection, new data. While gender and age Sex and Gender Science Chair. dence-based policy and practice tor, this is expanded to SGBA+ to development of severe disease, and data are typically collected, eth- The Hill Times

Fast funding, fast decisions, fast research investments made will not fundamentally change the trajectory of COVID-19? Have too many researchers dropped other research, and later, a need for a pause important work to divert their at- tention to COVID-19? What is the ultimate impact of the substantial research investments (both dol- across the globe, sparing no not escape anyone: the federal HIV/AIDS. But for all of these, lars and hours) that have been But if COVID-19 has country. Responses have been government’s quick mobilization “rapid” progress has occurred poured into the pandemic? We remarkable. Governments have of funds, CIHR’s launch of the over decades, not mere weeks will need to ask these questions, shown us anything, decisively implemented dras- competition, the research commu- to months, as is the expectation even if we don’t want to hear the it is that unthinkable tic measures: shut-downs with nity’s instantaneous development with COVID-19. answers. signifi cant economic effects of submissions followed by nearly The COVID-19 pandemic is None of this is written to events are possible, and limits to personal freedoms, immediate peer review, and playing out at an incredible pace. question the swift responses that health system adaptations to ac- most importantly, the successful This op-ed is written as the epi- have occurred on all fronts. Plain and the decisions we commodate a surge in patients, researchers’ willingness to drop demic already appears to be abat- and simply, they were called for. and far-reaching economic relief just about everything to swiftly ing, and if trends from European Governments have responded. make dealing with to mitigate the effects of the conduct their research. countries are any indication, we Health systems have responded. pandemic on people, businesses, Knowing what we know right may be moving toward the end The public has responded. And them matter a great and institutions. The public is now, this unprecedented mobi- of a fi rst wave in as little as 2-3 the research community has deal. engrossed by all of this, rapt lization of the health research weeks. Is this too fast for even the responded. Collectively, this ex- with daily government briefi ngs enterprise was called for—but fastest funding, fastest research, emplifi es humankind’s resiliency and wall-to-wall COVID-19 news will we always see it that way? and fastest publications? Pubmed, and our relentless pursuit of prog- coverage. Our response illustrates by the way, has over 9000 indexed ress, even in the face of pandemic Less noticed, but no less humankind’s time-tested readi- publications on COVID-19 – adversity. remarkable, is the response of ness to tackle grand challenges. surprising considering that this But if COVID-19 has shown the health research enterprise. In Our collective resourcefulness, disease didn’t even exist a few us anything, it is that unthink- Canada there has been an explo- discussed in Matt Ridley’s months ago! able events are possible, and the sion of funding opportunities for The Rational Optimist, is why We will need to pose some decisions we make dealing with research into COVID-19 from measures of human well-being tough questions when all is said them matter a great deal. The time federal, provincial, and private continue to improve across de- and done. Social distancing to deal with the immediate crisis agencies. This has occurred at cades—life expectancy, quality measures and other restrictions may be passing—but someday William Ghali break-neck speed. In February, of life, economic well-being, and are proven to reduce transmis- there will be a next crisis, and Opinion the Canadian Institutes of Health technological sophistication. We sion, and appear to have ‘fl attened we will need a next response. We Research (CIHR) launched a have evidence that ‘public health the curve’. But could some of the owe it to each other to make sure rapid funding opportunity for always wins’ throughout his- economic consequences have our responses are informed by ALGARY—The COVID-19 COVID-19, with a one-week gap tory: the gains brought by safe been averted? Our health systems the hard lessons we are learning Cpandemic is a societal grand between announcement and ap- drinking water and sanitation, appear to have successfully man- today. challenge—a biological phe- plication deadline, and similarly the eradication and/or control of aged the COVID-19 case surges, William Ghali is the vice-presi- nomenon that has been jarring brief periods for peer review smallpox and polio, the annual but did this compromise too many dent of research at the University in its sudden appearance, quick and decisions. The magnitude mitigation of infl uenza; and other aspects of health care? Is of Calgary. propagation, and steady march of this accomplishment should advances in the management of it possible that the substantial The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 29 Policy Briefi ng Research & Innovation

The federal Who should we really government recently announced it will fund at least one be testing for COVID-19? million blood tests to track the novel coronavirus over the next two years. pressure to ease up on the lock weeks, signal impending hospi- This is a step in Sophisticated down and isolation rules increas- talizations. That’s no longer good the right direction. es? The answer depends critically enough. But is it enough? sampling strategy on why we need test results. It is essential to detect and iso- Photograph A sophisticated sampling late infected individuals quickly, courtesy of Pixabay needed to adapt to strategy is the only path forward and as many of their contacts as evolving policies at present. There simply is not can be traced, if we want to relax enough resources to test everyone the restrictions as quickly as pos- associated with or even perform a simple random sible. sample. Blood tests, as the govern- gradual relaxation of Perhaps half of those infected ment has just announced, can do not show more than very mild tell us how many people have To provide valid and useful In sum, we need a sophis- physical distancing. symptoms, if any. These indi- been infected (though the amount results, testing needs to be based ticated sampling strategy for viduals have greatly complicated of resulting immunity remains on sophisticated sampling, simple testing, and one that can adapt to efforts at epidemic control. If unknown). But these will likely be random samples will not work. A evolving circumstances, not least everyone infected with COVID-19 far below those needed for herd highly controversial Santa Clara as physical distancing and related had symptoms, we could simply immunity, so low that signifi cant study of how many residents have policies are reduced. require them to self-isolate. In- relaxation of physical distancing been infected shows the perils of These data need to be acces- stead, we have to keep two metres would result in a surge of new poor sampling. sible for statistical analysis not from everyone and wear masks, infections—straining health-care For example, nursing homes need only locally, not only provincially, because we cannot tell if they are resources, causing more deaths, their own samples; indeed, every but also nationally, and of course infected but not showing it. and requiring the reintroduction resident should be tested periodically they need to be securely handled Public health agencies clearly of draconian controls. for the time being. For the general and protected. need to continue and expand To monitor adequately, the population, though, a multi-pronged Testing results, based on Michael Wolfson testing for high-risk populations, tests cannot cover only symp- effort is needed, starting with new proper and extensive sampling, Opinion including front-line health-care tomatic individuals since this will clusters of infection, including key are fundamental to improving the workers, personal support work- miss the large asymptomatic or groups such as front-line workers in model results shown on TV and ers (PSWs) working in nursing pre-symptomatic portion of the shops that are reopening. used by governments to inform he federal government re- homes, retirement residences and infected population. We also need to distinguish the relaxation of restrictions. This Tcently announced it will fund in home care, as well as the pub- It matters who is tested. If geographic regions within would allow us to return to a new at least one million blood tests to lic health workers doing contact it’s mainly individuals who live provinces, for example, differ- normal—more quickly, and with track the novel coronavirus over tracing. alone and are careful about ent cities. Even though most of lower risks of serious mistakes. the next two years. This is a step But we need to do better, with physically isolating, most tests the public discussion has been Michael Wolfson, PhD, is a former in the right direction. But is it reliable real-time data on how will be negative. For PSWs or about policies at the provincial assistant chief statistician at Sta- enough? many people in the population meat-processing plant workers, level (and state level in the U.S.), tistics Canada and a member of the How do we know if we are are, or have been, infected and though, the same number of tests proper sampling, and relaxation Centre for Health Law, Policy and testing the right number, and the where they are. Tests of current could fi nd much higher rates of policies, will need to target very Ethics at the University of Ottawa. right people, especially as the infections, with a lag of a few infection. real differences within provinces. The Hill Times

do share some communication. Dr. Bourque, also a member of How the scientifi c community CanCOVID, saw a channel in the CanCOVID workspace dedicated to funding opportunities, something the COVID Resources Canada started its own COVID-19 response workspace was already working on. “I thought maybe we could work on this together,” Dr. research without distraction. Canada’s Chief Continued from page 22 Bourque said, and the funding op- It will also enable the platform Public Health Offi cer portunities channel is now shared ate student at the University of administrators to focus their ef- Theresa Tam speaks between both groups. Toronto, has since taken the lead forts on supporting core platform with reporters at a As both platforms are mere on managing the entire volun- activities,” reads a statement from media availability weeks old, they’re constantly be- teer effort. The Ontario regional the website. in West Block to ing updated. manager currently oversees 3,051 “Slack is a fantastic resource update Canadians on “It’s like building a train after it volunteers, while the Quebec for encouraging trans-disciplin- the response to the left the station,” Dr. Gallagher said. manager has 298, along with 556 ary work,” Dr. Gallagher said. ongoing COVID-19 The core group behind COVID in the West and 76 in Atlantic “We’ve brought together people pandemic on May. Resources Canada is working hard Canada. from different research communi- 6, 2020. A briefi ng to expand the website’s offerings. The same day the group be- ties where the cultures are very note that started on The group is currently working on hind COVID Resources Canada different.” CanCOVID made its a database of Canadian expertise had their fi rst Zoom meeting, Drs. Gallagher and Tannen- way up to Theresa to help facilitate communication Chief Science Adviser Mona baum also moderate the Slack Tam. The Hill Times and collaboration among research- Nemer mandated the creation channels and can alert relevant photograph by Andrew ers, media, and the public. of the CanCOVID network, and experts to discussions going on in Meade One of the main reasons for tapped Cara Tannenbaum, depart- a certain channel. COVID Resources Canada’s early mental science adviser at Health Dr. Tannenbaum said she and at Health Canada. The briefi ng The COVID Resources Canada success, according to Dr. Sankar, Canada, and Sarah Gallagher, Dr. Gallagher saw a discussion note eventually made its way team heard about the CanCOVID is how much the members enjoy departmental science adviser for about a lack of data on inter- up to Canada’s Chief Public project before it launched through working with one another. the Canadian Space Agency, to sectional identity for COVID-19 Health Offi cer Theresa Tam, Dr. their respective universities, Dr. “Working together with people lead the effort. On March 23, Drs. cases on one of the channels, and Tannenbaum told an Evidence Bourque said. The two groups who you actually have fun with Tannenbaum and Gallagher met decided to step in. for Democracy panel on May 5. were put in touch and realized and execute and work well with, with the U15 Group of Canadian “We saw an opportunity,” she Dr. Tannenbaum said one of the their work was complimentary. it really helped to make this Universities and brought them on said. She asked the participants most pressing issues currently Initially, both groups were work- whole initiative that much easier to the implementation team. to brainstorm solutions and draft gripping the group is how to ing to fi nish their websites, and to work on. People tend to want to CanCOVID also uses Slack to a document so she could bring it learn from and not repeat fl awed decided to reconvene after they come to work every day,” Dr. San- connect researchers in specifi c “to the people who can implement sero-prevalence studies, the launched. On April 1, the CanCO- kar said. “I don’t think this initia- research channels, but the Can- them.” number of people in population VID website soft-launched and at tive would have moved as quickly COVID workspace is by invitation A Google Doc was started. A who test positive for a specifi c the time of writing the network as it has, considering we’re only a only. “Limiting membership in few days later, Dr. Tannenbaum disease based on serology, or has more than 1,000 members. month-and-some old.” this way will enable COVID-19 was given the briefi ng note blood serum specimens, in other The two groups have inde- [email protected] researchers to focus on critical and presented it to colleagues countries. pendent Slack workspaces, but The Hill Times 30 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Research & Innovation Policy Briefi ng

Innovation Minister , second from right, Coronavirus pictured on the Hill on March 20, Cases by Country: 2020, along with Public Services and Country Total Cases New Total Procurement Minister Cases Deaths Anita Andand, Public Safety Minister Bill USA 1,278,485 +15,393 76,101 Blair, and Deputy Spain 256,855 +3,173 26,070 Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, at Italy 215,858 +1,401 29,958 that day’s ministerial UK 206,715 +5,614 30,615 update on the government’s efforts Russia 177,160 +11,231 1,625 to fi ght the COVID-19 France 174,791 +600 25,987 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Germany 169,015 +853 7,342 Andrew Meade Turkey 133,721 +1,977 3,641 as soon as they become available. We are Brazil 127,655 +1,044 8,609 also investing in research that will con- Iran 103,135 +1,485 6,486 tribute towards efforts to rapidly detect, Canada is tapping into manage and reduce the transmission of China 82,885 +2 4,633 COVID-19. Ultimately, we are endeavour- Canada 64,817 +1,321 4,404 ing to deliver a vaccine and treatment so Canadians can revert back to their regular India 56,325 +3,338 1,889 ingenuity of businesses routines, get the economy moving again, Peru 54,817 1,533 and pave the way for a rebound in the aftermath of this pandemic. Belgium 51,420 +639 8,415 To support these objectives, we an- Netherlands 41,774 +455 5,288 and manufacturers to nounced a $1-billion package that in- cludes new funding for vaccine develop- Saudi Arabia 33,731 +1,793 219 ment, the production of treatments, and Ecuador 30,298 +878 1,654 new measures to track the virus. This will help fi ght COVID-19 add more vaccine development fund- Switzerland 30,126 +66 1,810 ing for VIDO-InterVac and the National Mexico 27,634 +1,609 2,704 Research Council of Canada’s Human Bains recognized it was imperative that Health Therapeutics, as well as funding Portugal 26,715 +533 1,105 Their collective response our country tap in to the ingenuity of for genome sequencing efforts through Pakistan 24,644 +1,430 585 Canadian businesses and manufacturers. the Canadian COVID Genomics Network to COVID-19 represents They, in turn, have responded by stepping (CanCOGeN), led by Genome Canada. It Sweden 24,623 +705 3,040 forward to assist our health-care profes- also includes $600-million through the Chile 24,581 +1,533 285 the largest ever peacetime sionals and other essential heroes. Since Strategic Innovation Fund to harness the mobilization of both then, the Department of Innovation, Sci- expertise of Canadian fi rms to fast-track Ireland 22,385 +137 1,403 ence and Industry has been in contact with clinical trials of vaccines and therapy and Singapore 20,939 +741 20 more than 6,000 Canadian companies that create bio-manufacturing opportunities, industry and the scientifi c Belarus 20,168 +913 116 have offered their expertise and capacity to and $114.9 million for the Canadian Insti- community in our history. meet the country’s demand for PPE. tutes of Health Research to fund research Qatar 18,890 +918 12 Many of these fi rms have, by now, piv- that will achieve better medical and social Israel 16,346 +36 239 We can all take immense oted towards making face shields, gown, countermeasures. masks, and other much-needed goods. This These announcements build on invest- UAE 16,240 +502 165 pride in these eff orts. includes household names such as Bauer, ments announced earlier in this pandemic, Austria 15,752 +68 609 apparel companies like Stanfi eld’s and such as Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Science Canada Goose, and fl agships such as Gen- to fi ght COVID-19, with $275-million for Japan 15,253 556 eral Motors Canada, which has retooled its research and medical countermeasures. As Poland 15,047 +307 755 Oshawa assembly plant to produce masks part of this plan, on May 3, the government here in Canada. announced an investment of $175.6-mil- Romania 14,499 +392 886 Innovation, Science and Industry has lion to support AbCellera. This will sup- Ukraine 13,691 +507 340 also announced that more than one million port Canada’s fi ght against COVID-19 litres of ethanol, a key ingredient in hand by leveraging AbCellera’s world-leading Indonesia 12,776 +338 930 sanitizers, will be provided by Canadian drug discovery technology, which searches Bangladesh 12,425 +706 199 distilleries through the Hand Sanitizer and analyzes blood samples of recov- Manufacturing Exchange. This availability ered patients to rapidly identify naturally S. Korea 10,810 +4 256 Liberal MP in alcohol inputs allows producers to get produced antibodies that can be used to Philippines 10,343 +339 685 Opinion sanitizer to consumers, like Fluid Energy fi ght and prevent viral infections. Remark- Group, which is creating 200 new jobs to ably, in just a few short weeks, AbCellera Denmark 10,083 +145 514 supply sanitizer. Similarly, we have worked has identifi ed over 500 antibodies directly Serbia 9,848 +57 206 OVID-19 has presented all Canadians with diverse fi rms making airbags and from a patient who has recovered from with unprecedented challenges. The house wraps to produce fabric for medical COVID-19. It will also support AbCellera to Dominican 9,095 +288 373 C Republic magnitude and scale of the fi ght against gowns. This too enables Canadian fi rms establish a Good Manufacturing Practice COVID-19 has proven all-encompassing, like the ones mentioned to produce gowns (GMP) facility in Vancouver, B.C., ensuring Colombia 8,959 397 leading the Government of Canada to com- for our front-line workers, despite global our country further strengthens its capac- South Africa 8,232 +424 161 mit to a whole-of-government, all-hands- competition for fabrics. ity to respond to future pandemics. on-deck approach to fi ghting this pan- Still other manufacturers have com- During these challenging times, the Norway 8,015 +19 216 demic. Needless to say, the public health bined resources to produce desperately response from Canadians has been nothing Czechia 8,002 +28 269 impacts of COVID-19 are paramount, needed equipment. Companies like Star- short of inspiring. Whether considering compelling us all to marvel at the tremen- fi sh Medical, Cerebra and MacDon have private enterprises and their workers in Egypt 7,981 +393 482 dous dedication and sacrifi ces made by our partnered to produce ventilators using the manufacturing sector, union leaders, or Panama 7,731 +208 218 front-line workers, health-care providers, intellectual property developed here in world-class researchers at our universities, emergency responders, and others. Amidst Canada. Such partnerships highlight the the fl exibility, ingenuity, and resourceful- Australia 6,896 +21 97 all the suffering and anxiety, they have innovative spirit of Canadian industry. Not ness of Canadian industry has been on Kuwait 6,567 +278 44 proven relentless in inspiring us all. only have they allowed us to respond to the full-display. As the prime minister has said, At the same time, we should recognize need for PPE, they have helped keep many “there is no doubt these are unprecedented Malaysia 6,467 +39 107 the manifold contributions of countless Canadians employed. times, but no matter what happens next, Finland 5,673 +100 255 companies, big and small, and salute our ex- Canadian universities and colleges have we can count on each other.” Thanks to the ceptional research community during these also proven pivotal, donating much-needed inspiring tenacity of these Canadian lead- Morocco 5,548 +140 183 uncertain times. Their collective response to PPE gear and offering innovative solutions ers, we will neither fail nor falter. Argentina 5,208 273 COVID-19 represents the largest ever peace- to combat the spread of COVID-19. The Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi, who represents time mobilization of both industry and the government has been investing aggres- Willowdale, Ont., is the Parliamentary Algeria 5,182 +185 483 scientifi c community in our history. We can sively to support Canada’s world-class Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, all take immense pride in these efforts. scientists and researchers as they work to Science and Industry for Innovation and Source: Worldometer and updated May 7, 2020. As of May 7, there On March 20, Prime Minister Justin develop an effective vaccine, and to ensure Industry. were 3,886,230 cases worldwide, 268,908 deaths, and 1,331,014 Trudeau and Innovation Minister Navdeep that Canadians have access to treatments The Hill Times recoveries. This chart was cut to fi t the page. THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 31 Public safety News

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, pictured April 20, 2020, at that day’s COVID-19 media briefi ng on the Hill, is the minister responsible for overseeing the Canada Border Services Agency and the government’s guns and gangs initiative. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Border agency has new sniff er dogs, X-ray machines deployed to catch gun smugglers

That includes a new training The CBSA has also bought “du- public documents for more recent an interview request by deadline Two years into program for border offi cers on al-view” X-ray machines for use at years. In 2015-16, border agents last week. how to detect concealed goods in three international postal facilities. seized 809 undeclared fi rearms, Former Conservative public the ‘gun and gang’ vehicles. The CBSA has now put Dual-view machines scan pack- and 6,824 “prohibited weapons”— safety minister Peter Van Loan its instructors through the new ages from two sides at once, speed- it’s not clear how many were fi re- told The Hill Times in an inter- initiative, however, Advanced Vehicle Examination ing up the process for agents who arms—according to departmental view last month that pouring the CBSA has not yet techniques course, and border of- would otherwise have to scan them performance reports. more money into efforts to stop fi cers will go through the training twice. The CBSA has also bought It’s not clear whether there gun smuggling at the border was been able to seize in the coming year, according to new hand-held X-ray machines to was a change in the number of “a bit of a mug’s game, because the department. speed up its cargo scanning. attempted gun smugglings from you could never spend enough to signifi cantly more The agency has trained fi ve The agency is also planning to one year to another. actually catch everything without new detector dog teams, which install X-ray machines at interna- Public Safety Minister Bill Blair shutting down the border.” guns than before. can sniff out concealed guns, tional airports that can scan an (Scarborough Southwest, Ont.) has Mr. Van Loan advocated for drugs, currency, and more. There entire pallet of cargo at once, so promised that the government’s stiffer sentencing for people who BY PETER MAZEREEUW are now 76 dog teams spread agents don’t have to unpack the forthcoming gun control legislation are caught in possession of illegal across Canada’s ports of entry, pallets and scan each item indi- would include new measures to guns as an alternative way to anada has fi ve new “detector” according to the agency. vidually. The COVID-19 crisis has “reduce the incidence of smuggling deter gun crime in Canada. Cdog teams guarding its borders, The agency is planning to delayed the CBSA’s rollout of the of fi rearms across the border.” The Conservative government and new equipment and training build an indoor training facility pallet X-ray machines, according Canadian authorities don’t introduced mandatory minimum programs on the way to help catch for its detector dogs in Quebec, to to the agency. really know how many guns jail terms for illegal possession of smuggled guns and drugs. speed up the training process by So far, however, the new tools are smuggled into Canada each a fi rearm in 2008. The Supreme Money from the government’s allowing the agency to train dog and dog teams have not made year, Senators Gwen Boniface Court struck down those penal- 2017 “gun and gang” initiative teams during harsh winter and a noticeable difference in the (Ontario), a former OPP commis- ties in 2015. has been fl owing to the Canada hot summer months. number of guns the CBSA seizes sioner, and Vern White (Ontario), There was an average of 185 Border Services Agency since the However, statistics from previ- at the border. Border agencies a former Ottawa police chief, told gun homicides per year in Canada 2018-19 fi scal year. The govern- ous years suggest that adding fi ve seized 647 guns in the fi rst three The Hill Times last month. between 2002 and 2008; 165 per ment promised $51.5-million split new detector dog teams may not quarters of the 2019-20 fi scal year, The two Senators said that the year between 2008 and 2015; and over fi ve years to the agency, part lead to a major increase in gun which ended on April 1. The data government could catch more gun 223, 267, and 249 gun homicides of a $327.6-million package that seizures by the CBSA. for the fourth quarter—including smugglers by funding cooperative in Canada in the three years that was split with the RCMP and the Dog teams were responsible two weeks when the border was projects between police agencies; followed, according to Statistics provinces and territories. for just seven per cent of the closed—is not yet available. enforcing tough penalties against Canada. Two years into that program, guns seized in 2017-18, and 13 The CBSA seized 696 guns in gun smugglers; and requiring po- The shooter who killed 22 peo- the CBSA says it has spent its per cent in 2016-17. The share of the entire 2018-19 fi scal year, and lice forces to upload information ple in Nova Scotia last month used share of the new funding on new guns seized thanks to detector 751 the year before that. In 2016- to a ballistic database system. guns that he obtained illegally from personnel, training and equip- dog teams was not included in 17, the CBSA seized “over” 300 Conservative MP Pierre Paul- both within Canada and the United ment to catch guns coming over departmental performance re- undeclared guns, and another 246 Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint- States, according to the RCMP. the border, and the drugs that fuel ports before or after that two-year that were prohibited—a distinc- Charles, Que.) his party’s public [email protected] organized crime in Canada. period. tion that it no longer made in safety critic, did not respond to The Hill Times 32 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Conservative leadership race

MacKay back into ad game after “You’re talking about the activist, the donor, the member- ship class of the party. That’s not necessarily representative of the month-long hiatus, as Conservative country at large, or of the swing voters that are out there,” he said. The O’Toole campaign is trying to replicate the work its Party membership deadline nears digital director, Jeff Ballingall, has done with the Ontario and Canada Proud websites he founded, said Mr. Tester. Mr. Ballingall is also an execu- more infl uence over the outcome of the things they have done,” said and potential members online” tive with right-wing media orga- ‘It’s a tale of two of the vote than do members Mr. Tester. since it suspended in-person nization The Post Millennial. in ridings in which many party “It doesn’t really resemble campaigning amid the COVID-19 “They’re basically taking what diff erent strategies,’ members reside. any digital campaigns I’ve seen lockdown. he did with Proud and trying to says Dean Tester, “It’s a tale of two different around the world.” run it for a leadership campaign. strategies,” said Dean Tester, the The COVID-19 lockdown in O’Toole promises to take They’re taking full advantage of president of Tester president of Tester Digital, who Canada has slowed down the on China, stand up for external assets like Canada Proud has done digital campaign work leadership race. Canadians have and The Post Millennial that no Digital, of Erin for several provincial parties and been preoccupied with the chal- Alberta one else has access to,” said Mr. high-profi le political leaders, and lenges of everyday living, with Mr. O’Toole’s campaign has Tester, who has not done work for O’Toole’s and previously worked on Maxime businesses and public spaces consistently run a variety of any of the leadership candidates Bernier’s 2017 Conservative Party shuttered for the past month. ads on Facebook. Last week, in this contest, but who has previ- Peter MacKay’s ad leadership campaign. Many have been struggling it released a series of French- ously worked alongside Emrys campaigns. O’Toole “O’Toole is kind of playing the fi nancially. Social distancing language ads. Before that, the Graefe, the digital director for Mr. long game … he’s trying to build restrictions have made it more campaign released ads tailored MacKay’s campaign. is playing the long engagement, he’s trying to build diffi cult for campaigns to procure to viewers in Alberta and New- The Canada Proud Facebook a following on social media,” said slick production teams to produce foundland and Labrador. page has more than 200,000 fol- game, while MacKay Mr. Tester. traditional video ads. The videos differ in substance lowers. Most of its recent posts are “MacKay is saying, ‘The Prior to last week, Mr. MacK- and tone, but most use the same focused on Prime Minister Trudeau. is focused on membership deadline is in a few ay’s team had not advertised style: Mr. O’Toole speaking into the Some are critical of Mr. MacKay. weeks, that’s all we care about. on Facebook since March. That camera for roughly a minute, accom- Canada Proud recycled a post membership sales We don’t care if people think it month, he ran a collection of ads panied by music and some images. from The Post Millennial on May and fundraising. looks good, or the media is going touching on a variety of topics, Many of Mr. O’Toole’s videos feature 4 that played on a popular meme to crap on us. What we care about some in unconventional styles. criticism of Prime Minister Trudeau, involving dancing pallbearers, is membership sales and fund- Some ads were 10 to 15 seconds and a promise from Mr. O’Toole to Continued from page 1 with the title “Conservatives raising,’ ” he said. long, and did not feature a photo tackle a specifi c issue or policy area. watching the MacKay campaign.” Instead of running traditional, It also included text that said, campaign-style ads online, Mr. Former “Don’t like Peter MacKay’s posi- MacKay’s campaign has put Conservative tion on something? Don’t worry, money into boosting less fl ashy justice minister he’ll change his mind in 24 hours.” posts on social media, both last Peter MacKay, Mr. MacKay issued a liberal week and in late March. left, and notice to The Post Millennial over The campaign boosted posts Conservative an April 27 article that said a poll last week designed to encourage MP and former showed Mr. O’Toole had taken the supporters to buy memberships. veterans minister lead in the leadership race, but One simply featured the words Erin O'Toole did not disclose the connection “eight days left” in fl ashing black are the top between the site and Mr. Ballin- and white; the other, run a day contenders for the gall, or the fact that Mr. O’Toole’s earlier, showed a clock, and the leadership of the campaign manager, Fred Delorey, words, “nine days left.” Conservative Party runs the public affairs agency The MacKay campaign had of Canada. The Hill that conducted the poll. spent less than $1,000 on those Times photograph posts as of May 7, but they had by Andrew Meade, been viewed more than 60,000 MacKay signing up P2P fi le photograph times, according to Facebook’s ad texters, social media library. Mr. O’Toole’s (Durham, Ont.) ‘activists’ team has run a variety of ads Both Mr. O’Toole and Mr. consistently throughout the MacKay’s websites are now ask- campaign. Recent ones include ing visitors to sign up as volun- issue-based ads—including prom- May 15 is the deadline to of Mr. MacKay. The campaign “Erin’s campaign is very slick, teers for their campaigns. Mr. ises that Mr. O’Toole will “hold sign up new members who will also ran ads with videos of Mr. looks professional, it’s very con- MacKay’s website allows visi- the Chinese Communist Party be eligible to vote in the August MacKay answering call-in ques- sistent in tone and message,” said tors to sign up for specifi c tasks, accountable,” or go to bat for gun leadership election. tions that lasted for more than an Mr. Tester. including working as peer-to-peer owners—endorsements, and criti- “You really want to sell new hour. Issue-based ads are “a sort of texting volunteers. cisms of Prime Minister Justin memberships, or renew them and Earlier in March, the MacKay data collection exercise,” said Mr. Peer to peer texting is a Trudeau (Papineau, Que.). get people back in the system,” campaign had run a series of Matthews. Campaigns use the ads relatively new form of political Mr. MacKay’s campaign had said Dennis Matthews, who man- more conventional ads, featur- to get people’s attention, fi nd out outreach that has become widely spent more than $123,000 on aged advertising in Conservative ing Mr. MacKay speaking into what engages them, and collect practised in the United States and ads connected to his Facebook prime minister Stephen Harper’s the camera on a particular issue: their contact information when now increasingly in Canada. Vol- account as of late last week. Mr. PMO, and now works as a vice- including the need to bring Cana- they click on the ad. unteers for a campaign are given O’Toole’s campaign had spent president at Enterprise Canada. dians stranded abroad amid the “They want to get the names, a list of mobile phone numbers $49,000. “The ads mostly you’re seeing COVID-19 crisis back home. they want to get your email. They the campaign has collected, and Neither of the other two candi- here are ones that are designed to “There’s no cookie-cutter ap- want to know where you live. asked to start texting back and dates in the leadership race, MP get people to click on them, and proach to advertising,” said Mr. Advertising is sort of the fi rst step forth with the people at those (Hastings-Lennox engage with them in some way so Matthews. into the door for collecting all of numbers, with the goal of turning and Addington, Ont.) or Toronto that the campaign can reach them “Increasingly, the way social that information,” he said. them into supporters, donors, or lawyer Leslyn Lewis, have run and ultimately hope to sell them a media companies are set up, is In one video ad seen by volunteers—and eventually, to get ads for their campaigns on Face- membership,” he said. that you have to be paying … in more than 15,000 Albertans, Mr. them out to vote. book. Prior to a recent overhaul, the order for it to reach audiences. O’Toole blamed Mr. Trudeau’s The text conservations are Many of Mr. O’Toole’s re- MacKay campaign website hadn’t The days of doing a post and just “failed and weak leadership” for managed through a digital appli- cent ads have run exclusively in featured any of the hallmarks of a having it shared around are not the decline of the province’s oil cation managed by the campaign. French. traditional political website. Instead quite the same. You’ve got to pay and gas sector. Mr. O’Toole prom- Mr. MacKay’s campaign also Quebec Conservatives are a of biographical information about to boost it.” ised to “stand up for Alberta and allows volunteers to sign up to prime target for Conservative Mr. MacKay or policy positions, the Asked why the MacKay our resource sector.” make phone calls, or to become a leadership campaigns. Each website simply led visitors through campaign had stopped advertis- Running attack ads while the “digital activist”—someone who riding across the country holds a series of questions that helped ing on social media during April, country is fi ghting through a pan- follows, likes, comments on and equal sway in deciding the leader- the campaign to gather information spokesperson Jordan Paquet said demic might not resonate with shares the campaign’s social ship contest. Quebec’s ridings about them and the likelihood of in a written statement that the the general public, but is unlikely media posts. have relatively few Conservative gaining their support. campaign had “found new and to turn off current or potential [email protected] Party members; each member in The MacKay campaign “has innovative ways to reach hun- voting Conservative Party mem- @PJMazereeuw a sparsely-populated riding has been very experimental in some dreds of thousands of members bers, said Mr. Matthews. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 33 Media News Newspaper industry must ‘speak with one voice,’ say publishers pushing feds to ‘level the playing fi eld’

“And you wouldn’t have seen for companies that are going Nobody can forecast in that statement, any bleating through transformations,” and or complaining about closures of are not a bailout for an industry what shape the newspapers, losses of jobs—we “that’s doing the same thing over industry is going to recognize around Canada that and over again.” there’s lots of industries having “We have pivoted very hard be in after any kind challenges because of the virus. to digital, we have for a while, However, we see what’s happening but we pivoted now to subscriber of return to normal, in other countries, this is a problem revenues, and it’s just a matter that’s certainly been going on since of time before we get to a critical says The Globe and platforms effectively started to mass where we’re sustainable, Heritage Minister pictured speaking with reporters on Feb. impose themselves on the advertis- and in that window, temporary 3, 2020. Newspaper publishers from coast to coast, including from the Glacier Mail publisher Phillip ing ecosystem, now for a couple of measures are good, but it’s not re- Media Group, , The , and Le Devoir recently Crawley, one of 10 decades, so this is a moment where ally the answer,” said Mr. Boynton. issued an 'urgent message' asking the government to emulate the examples of there’s even more reason to act.” “We just need a way that we Australia and France 'to make sure Google and Facebook pay their fair share, signees of an ‘urgent can work with the government to instead of exploiting tax loopholes while making billions of dollars off the back COVID-19 pandemic not get any more handouts but of original content producers.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade message’ to the ‘accelerated the need to literally level the playing fi eld, and treat Canadian owned-and- that Facebook and Google would to do on their part to support government. for us to speak with one run-businesses the exact same be compelled to pay news media innovation, help media create voice,’ says Postmedia way you would treat—and I can’t outlets for content in a bid to sustainable business models, and even believe I’m saying this— more equitably distribute adver- that they want to partner with Continued from page 1 president and CEO treat Canadian business with the tising revenue—the loss of which industry on this issue. 10 newspaper organizations from The industry has been faced same fairness as an international has hit media outlets around the Google did not return an inter- coast-to-coast, states that “in April with a structural challenge for the monopoly.” world particularly hard. view request. 2020 alone, Australia and France last 10 years according to Andrew Brian Myles, CEO of Le Devoir Australia’s move followed both announced plans to make MacLeod, president and CEO of told The Hill Times that “it was an order set down by France’s Government ‘fully aware’ sure Google and Facebook pay Postmedia. quite obvious that we share a com- competition authority earlier in their fair share, instead of exploit- “As revenue migrates from mon goal and a common problem,” the month for Google to negotiate of challenges faced ing tax loopholes while making legacy categories—print, reader when asked about the process with publishers to pay for content by media sector, says billions of dollars off the back of sales, print subscriptions—to digi- behind releasing the letter. reuse, a move which involved a original content producers.” tal, the majority of that revenue “We are all concerned by the two-stage process, according to Heritage minister “We, the undersigned publish- is going to the foreign platforms, very slow process that we have John Hinds, president and CEO of Heritage Minister Steven ers representing the vast majority Google and Facebook, and that’s witnessed over the last few years News Media Canada. Guilbeault (Laurier-Sainte-Marie, of Canadian newspapers, call on been going on for some time,” said in Ottawa, especially the tug of “Last spring, the European Que.) was unavailable for an Ottawa to follow the example of Mr. MacLeod. “This is a conversa- war, pull and push between [the Union brought forward its new di- interview, but told The Hill Times France and Australia,” according tion that’s been going on within department of] Heritage and [the rective on copyright, and as part in an emailed statement that “our to the letter. the industry for the better part of department of] Finance—it’s a of that directive, they created a government is fully aware of the Nobody can forecast what three years or so in terms of how well known backstory for all the ‘publishers right,’” said Mr. Hinds. challenges faced by our media shape the industry is going to change the pieces on the chess- publishers and editors, and it’s “A publisher has the right to con- sector, especially during this dif- be in after any kind of return to board so we can build the future.” been very frustrating.” trol their content. So unlike our fi cult time. normal, and nobody can make “And I think that the pandemic “You have to realize that with fair dealing, it basically said you “We are thankful for their any forecast as to what the dam- and the associated economic the levies and subsidies and tax can’t use publishers’ stuff without work around the clock to deliver age is going to be in the long term shutdowns really accelerated the deductions that were announced, their approval and without pay.” news across the country, for the to some of the revenue streams need for us to speak with one it’s going to be probably close Following the launch of the information and safety of us that have supported the industry, voice and seek Ottawa’s support to two years between the fi rst copyright directive in the EU, all,” said Mr. Guilbeault. “We are according to Phillip Crawley, to try to create a different sort announcement and the actual ma- France moved very quickly in late closely following what is being publisher and CEO of The Globe of industry dynamic so that this terialization of those credits,” said spring to move it into domestic law. done abroad with regards to me- and Mail. industry can build a future,” said Mr. Myles, who added “we are all “They basically said ‘we’re dia support.” “This is an issue that’s bigger Mr. MacLeod. “Necessity is the preoccupied by the slow-moving taking the EU directive, we’re During a May 7 press confer- than just Canada and its publish- mother of invention.” train that we are witnessing.” making it French copyright law, ence in which he addressed Cana- ers and The Globe and Mail and John Boynton, CEO of Torstar “We know there is a crash here it is,’” said Mr. Hinds. “At dians on the COVID-19 situation, its relations with Google and and publisher of the Toronto Star, coming, we know our situation, that time, Google said ‘we’re not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Facebook,” said Mr. Crawley in said the numbers surrounding the there’s a real crisis in the news going to pay you anything,’ so the (Papineau, Que.) was asked about a phone interview with The Hill impact of the COVID-19 pandem- industry, and we see this govern- French publishers said, ‘that’s a France and Australia’s moves Times. “This is an issue that has ic on advertising—and the fore- ment moving so slowly, one step competition issue because you’re to force tech giants like Google got people thinking around the cast on when it might return—are at a time.” using your market dominance to and Facebook to share advertis- world, and we want Canada to be “pretty severe and protracted.” basically enforce no price.’” ing revenue with news content thinking about it actively,” he said. “There’s also a possibly per- Australian decision around “So they took it to the French providers, and whether or not the Mr. Crawley said it’s “very manent impact on the industry, Google and Facebook competition tribunal who said government was prepared to ad- unusual for all the Canadian pub- especially on print advertising, ‘you can’t do that, you have to dress the situation. lishers to be on the same page, and if you look back at the last attracted ‘a lot of interest’ have a fair negotiation and pay “It is extremely important literally.” two events, the 2008 fi nancial Bob Cox, publisher of the a fair price,’ so that’s how the that we support our news sector “With the publication of all crisis and 9/11, print advertising Winnipeg Free Press told The Hill French moved forward,” said Mr. because Canadians need the those names, it was pretty much did not bounce back to 100 per Times that the process behind the Hinds, who also noted the compe- information to keep them safe, to every major Canadian newspaper cent of where it was,” said Mr. publication of the letter unfolded tition bureau came through with plan for their futures, to lean on company that was represented Boynton. “There’s a temporary very quickly. an interim ruling that said Google each other,” said Mr. Trudeau. there,” said Mr. Crawley. “I don’t and a permanent impact there on “The Australian decision came and other digital companies have “We need the media now dur- remember an occasion when an industry already struggling to out a couple of weeks ago and to sit down and pay a fair price. ing a crisis more than we ever everybody’s put their name to come out of re-inventing itself.” attracted a lot of interest,” said A representative from Face- have,” he said, adding Mr. Guil- a statement. And the statement Mr. Boynton said the industry Mr. Cox. “Obviously Australia is book told The Hill Times that the beault is “working very hard and was, in my mind, a very polite has done a good job of shifting to a country that looks and feels a social media platform does not very closely with allies around invitation for the government of subscriber revenue, and that there lot like Canada and so when a scrape news content, and that the world to see what they’re Canada to take note of what is are 40 publishers now across the country like that does it, people news posted on Facebook is there doing and with the sector here in happening in other jurisdictions world with more than 100,000 take notice and certainly a lot of because publishers choose to post Canada to ensure that Canadians and to act upon it, because clearly digital subscribers. people took notice here.” it, or someone shares a link to it. get top-quality information.” there is a heightened sense of Mr. Boynton said “temporary On Monday, April 20, the Aus- The representative also said the [email protected] crisis affecting everyone.” measures are good and helpful tralian government announced company knows there is more The Hill Times 34 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

If action’s further delayed ‘little or from complete absorption into U.S.

Th e Tangled Garden: A Richard Stursberg, author of The Tower Canadian Cultural Manifesto of Babble and former executive vice For Th e Digital Age, by president of CBC/ Richard Stursberg, is one of Radio Canada, pictured on April 24, 2019, fi ve fi nalists for this year’s at The Hill Times' offi ce. 'As Canadians $50,000 Donner Prize the have had to isolate at home, the virus has best public policy book of the also accelerated their year. The issue of ensuring purchase of the foreign streaming services. Canadian culture survives the Time is short. If we are to save our great technological change in the cultural institutions, the government needs production and distribution to act now.' The Hill Times photograph by of digital content is front and Andrew Meade centre in policy debate in Parliament.

Here, industry veteran Stursberg clearly outlines the threat from Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netfl ix, and Google, providing both historical context and explicit recommendations, including a clarifi ed defi nition of Canadian content, as well ments of Robert Borden, William Lyon Golden Man Booker (Ondaatje). They have Mackenzie King, Louis St. Laurent, John been joined by more Booker winners and as possible approaches to Diefenbaker, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mul- nominees, the likes of Yann Martel, Patrick roney, and Jean Chrétien all agreed that if deWitt, Esi Edgyan and Madeleine Thien. subsidizing that content. He there was to be a Canada, there had to be Artistic success at these levels was not paints a very dim portrait of fi nancially healthy media to ensure that only important in its own right, it also Canada’s distinctive culture prospered. served to make clear that Canadians could the status quo and conveys a While there may have been disagreement produce works that rivalled the quality of about means, there was always complete those produced anywhere in the world. It sense of urgent need for policy agreement on the end goal. served to remind Canadians that despite The effect of these efforts was, in many their natural modesty, they were capable of action to level the playing fi eld. cases, simply to release the enormous achieving greatness. Canada was not some pools of talent that were already in the small and insignifi cant place, but a nation country. The famous radio content quo- that nurtured excellence and brilliance. BY RICHARD STURSBERG tas of the late 1960s and early 1970s did By the turn of the millennium, this vast not create the Canadian music industry. bipartisan national undertaking had borne anadian governments have always Rather, what they did was to show the reasonably impressive fruit. The newspaper Cknown that if there was to be a country the vast number of Canadian business was fl ourishing; Canadian musi- Canada, there would have to be Canadian artists of world-class quality. The likes of cians, bands and songwriters were interna- media. Since the 1930s, successive admin- Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, tionally famous; the Canadian TV industry istrations, whether Liberal or Conservative, and The Band were succeeded over time counted dozens of channels and billions of have struggled to strengthen the founda- by Alanis Morissette, The Tragically Hip, dollars in production; even the notoriously tions of Canadian culture, often in opposi- Justin Bieber, Drake, and Arcade Fire. The underperforming Canadian movie business tion to the desires of the United States. country was—and has remained—a hotbed would, thanks to its Québécois wing, occa- They passed laws, created regulations and of musical talent. sionally produce a hit and win an Oscar for provided fi nancial support so that Cana- Something similar could be seen in liter- best foreign-language fi lm. With the growth dian music, books, fi lms, newspapers, and ature. The Canada Council’s moves to sup- of these businesses and the mirrors they TV shows could fl ourish. For almost 100 port fi ction also coincided with an explo- created for Canadians to see themselves in, years, they worked—sometimes at signifi - sion of internationally famous writers. The the confi dence of the country surged, albeit cant political cost—to build counterweights generation of Mordecai Richler, Margaret in a quiet, self-effacing way. to the great centripetal force of the U.S. Atwood, Michael Ondaatje and Alice Munro The most striking aspect of these efforts swept up many of the world’s top literary

Books & Big Ideas Continued on page 35 was its bipartisan character. The govern- prizes, including the Nobel (Munro) and the

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Hands on Manual Exercise Therapy Electrical Physiotherapy Therapy Modalities Our expert team can help. 613.714.9495 Now serving 4 locations: Carling Ave - Hazeldean Rd - Greenbank Rd - Innovation Dr - Free Parking physiocarephysiotherapy.com THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 35 Books & Big Ideas no chance of saving English Canada Why did you want to write this book? “We are facing a grave national crisis with respect to our most cultural ecosystem’: Stursberg important cultural institutions. The major sources of both local and national news—the papers and TV— have been losing money for many years. If they collapse, our democ- Trudeau We review Continued from page 34 racy will be severely compromised. government how the gar- “Their fi nancial problem re- Beginning around 2010, however, has remained den became sults from the destruction of their much of what had been accomplished on the side- tangled by revenue bases by foreign digital began to erode. The emergence of the new lines, doing the entry of platforms—notably Facebook and U.S.-based digital platforms of Facebook, nothing. It the FAANGs, Google—who do not have to respect Apple, Amazon, Netfl ix, and Google (the has watched which ap- the tax regimes followed by Ca- FAANGs) began to compromise the fi nan- as the last peared as nadian companies. The principal cial viability of Canadian media business- century of invasive producers and commissioners of es. Where, in the past, Canadian companies nation-build- plants not un- Canadian TV shows—the Canadian had spent their advertising dollars with ing unwound like Japanese broadcasters—also have to compete Canadian magazines, newspapers, and around it, knotweed or with foreign streaming services in television networks, now they increas- as the great dog-strangling Canada (Netfl ix, Amazon, Apple, ingly favoured Facebook and Google. Their project of a vine, and ex- etc) who are exempted from the ob- money no longer stayed in Canada to North Ameri- plain how the ligations to produce Canadian con- support the creation of Canadian news and can, English- invasive spe- tent. If our broadcasters fail, we will TV shows; it now fl owed out of the country speaking cies began to no longer have TV shows that refl ect into the coffers of Silicon Valley. alternative crowd out the out unique sensibility, history, sense The emergence of Netfl ix and Amazon to the United native species of humour, and national preoccupa- dealt a second blow to the television in- States began that had been tions. We will no longer be able to dustry. They entered the Canadian market to collapse. cultivated see ourselves on our TV screens.” unregulated, bearing none of the burdens The aim of for so many shouldered by their Canadian counter- The Tangled years. We de- Why is your book important? parts. They did not collect or pay tax; nor Garden is to scribe how the “The book is important because did they have to contribute to the creation explain the garden began it sets out a policy framework for of Canadian TV shows or respect the coun- breakdown to wither, how resolving these issues in a way that try’s broadcast standards rules. of Canadian the fl owers in does not require the government The impact of the new digital platforms culture and to it became bent to increase the amount of money could not have been more dramatic. The ask whether and stooped. it spends supporting news and TV once mighty newspaper industry struggled it can be The production. to survive, shedding journalists and clos- salvaged from Tangled “It shows how to level the play- ing bureaus across the country. The vastly the embrace of Garden sum- ing fi eld with the foreign compa- profi table television business began to lose the FAANGs. marizes what nies and reconfi gure the existing money. CTV, Global and Citytv, the pow- We examine needs to be government support programs to erhouses of the private news business and in some detail done and lays ensure that we maintain a vibrant the biggest commissioners of Canadian how the cur- out an agenda national culture. It does so while drama and comedy, were all under water rent impasse for action to respecting and extending the non- by 2012. The magazine and fi lm businesses arose and The Tangled Garden: A Canadian Cultural Manifesto For The save the great partisan policy foundations that were also swept into the downdrafts cre- what—if any- Digital Age, by Richard Stursberg with Stephen Armstrong, bipartisan have informed both Liberal and ated by the FAANGs. thing—can be James Lorimer & Comany Ltd., 224 pp., $24.95 effort that Conservative approaches to cultural As the crisis deepened, the Conserva- done about it. began in 1929 policy for the last hundred years. tive government of Stephen Harper paid We focus to preserve “It provide a blueprint for the little attention. Indeed, to the extent that it on the largest of the media businesses— a distinct Canadian culture. It provides no current Liberal government to act addressed cultural questions at all, it was newspapers and television—and touches guarantees of success, but points to a path fairly, sensibly, expeditiously and only to exacerbate the problems faced by on fi lm, magazines and books. It does not that would certainly be more promising effectively.” Canadian media businesses. Rather than deal with music, except in passing, and has than the one the country is currently on. If providing assistance, the Harper govern- nothing to say about other important parts action is taken soon, there is a chance to Why should people read your book ment went out of its way to help the for- of our cultural life like the performing change the present trajectory of failure; if now? eign FAANGs and their hollowing-out of arts, libraries, galleries or museums. The action is further delayed, there is little or “With the emergence of the CO- the Canadian cultural ecosystem. Tangled Garden is an exploration of the no chance of saving English Canada from VID-19 virus the necessity to act has When the Liberals returned to power impact of new digital platforms on tradi- complete absorption into the U.S. cultural become urgent. The revenue short- in 2015, great hopes were expressed that tional media. ecosystem. Time is of the essence. She who falls affl icting the newspapers and they would address the peril facing the We describe the bipartisan consensus that dares, wins. broadcasters have become free falls. country. Strangely, however, they seemed historically underpinned Canadian media Richard Stursberg, a career broadcaster, As Canadians have had to isolate gripped by a terrible lassitude. For the fi rst and cultural policy, using as a metaphor the has served as executive director of Telefi lm at home, the virus has also acceler- three years of their mandate, they watched image of a garden. It shows how successive and head of English Language Services at ated their purchase of the foreign unmoved as news businesses collapsed and governments from the 1930s onward created the CBC. He is currently President of PEN streaming services. Time is short. the FAANGs grew bolder and bolder. The a cultural garden in Canada, separate from Canada. Excerpt from The Tangled Garden. If we are to save our great cultural Liberals seemed to be under Harper’s spell, the media ecosystem of the United States. Copyright © Richard Stursberg 2019. Used institutions, the government needs incapable of taking any action to address It describes the measures that were put in with permission from the publisher, James to act now.” the existential threat to the country. place to defi ne the garden and the supports Lorimer & Company, Ltd. www.lorimer.ca The FAANGs not only undermined Ca- that were created to water and tend it. The Hill Times nadian media, they also brought with them a host of corrosive cultural infl uences. Fake news and hoaxes began crowding out true news; Facebook was weaponized to exacer- The Donner Prize fi nalists: bate ethnic tensions and fi lter bubbles; Ca- nadian children were increasingly subjected to online bullying and harassment; privacy was constantly breached; and Canadians’ personal data were shared with unethical marketers and political manipulators. In Europe, the United States and the rest of the industrialized world, the behaviour of the FAANGs has been the subject of consid- erable study and concern. Parliamentary and Congressional hearings have taken place, massive studies have been undertaken, huge fi nes have been levied and new taxes have been imposed. The Europeans have imple- mented tough new legislation on hate speech and drafted laws requiring the FAANGs to contribute to the fi nancing and distribution of European audio-visual content. The fi ve fi nalists for this year’s $50,000 Donner Prize, the best book on public policy are: Breakdown: The Pipeline Debate and the Threat to Despite the actions taken around the Canada’s Future, by Dennis McConaghy; Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson; Living With world and the imperilled state of Canadian China: A Middle Power Finds Its Way, by Wendy Dobson; The Tangled Garden: A Canadian Cultural Manifesto For The Digital Age, by Richard media businesses, as of 2019, the Justin Stursberg; and The Wealth of First Nations, by Thomas Flanagan. The winner will be announced in the fall. 36 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES CLASSIFIEDS

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SNORING IS FUNNY ... BUT NOT REALLY

SNORING What’s the latest on the government’s funding for universities, MEANS YOU ARE colleges, and research facilities for the COVID-19 virus? A look at HEALING LESS AT NIGHT the money, who’s doing the research and is Canada partnering with other initiatives and researchers around the world? SNORING What were the lessons learned from SARS? Was research MEANS YOUR BRAIN on contagious diseases continued? Has the COVID-19 crisis AND HEART ARE HURTING produced many innovations so far? We’ll take a look at big Pharma and see where their research AND NOT GETTING GOOD OXYGEN is on a timely vaccine and anti-virals. TO HEAL AND FUNCTION Will government planning and policies on future pandemics continue to develop? Will there be increased spending? Be a part of this policy briefi ng.

Call to consult • 613 234 5758 INNOVATION & RESEARCH For more information or to reserve your government relations [email protected] • [email protected] and public affairs advertising space, contact The Hill Times display advertising department at 613-688-8841. THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 37 Part I of III-Part Series: Transparency, Trust & Transition News

get by the fall, adding that it will become more important as pro- Feds should have fi scal update, vincial economies are reopening. “I would be satisfi ed with a fi s- cal update for sometime in 2020,” he said. Mr. Wudrick said Canadians recovery plan soon, says Page have a “relatively good idea” on the federal government’s spend- ing through the PBO’s tracking, Kevin but he said the question mark is • ‘We are reading Page says on revenues. a fi scal He said the government needs IMF International update to be as transparent as possible, should while not coming out with an Monetary Fund have offi cial plan forward until the ‘some reports on Canada, recovery is more clear. essence’ When a fi scal update is re- of a fi scal we are reading PBO leased, Mr. Wudrick said it should plan. be laid out that the temporary reports on Canada, The Hill emergency measures don’t be- Times fi le come permanent measures. we should be photograph reading the minister Lack of budget leads to of fi nance’s fi scal questions of government update,’ says former accountability, says watchdog PBO Kevin Page. It is important to have the • A PBO report budgetary baseline for govern- ment spending so the opposition, published last month the public, and watchdogs can measure the actual spending projects a defi cit of was last December when he an- budget sometime in the fall. changed signifi cantly due to CO- against the baseline, said Duff $252.1-billion in the nounced a projected defi cit of Mr. Page said while there is VID-19, as the emergency spend- Conacher, co-founder of Democ- $26.6-billion for the fi scal year, a lack of transparency from the ing measures came later. racy Watch. current fi scal year. jumping to $28.1-billion in the government around fi scal balanc- “You could at least get a “You can’t have accountability following year, and declining to es, it does deserve some breathing snapshot of the end of the fi scal unless you have that information $11.6-billion by 2024-2025. space as it tries to put out the fi re year,” he said, adding that there is disclosed by the government,” Mr. Continued from page 1 Parliamentary Budget Offi cer that is the spread of COVID-19. questionable value of any long- Conacher said. March and Prime Minister Justin Yves Giroux published a report Professor Kevin Milligan of term projections associated with “The government not introduc- Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) told re- on April 30 that projected a defi cit the Vancouver School of Econom- the update. ing a budget is a way of the gov- porters last week that there is no of $252.1-billion in the current fi s- ics at the University of British Co- “There’s some tension here ernment escaping accountability timeline for one to take place. cal year, with program expenses lumbia said that once the govern- between putting out a number for spending and it shouldn’t be “Before the summer break, I totalling nearly $510-billion and ment has a handle on emergency that is almost certainly wrong, allowed,” he said. “There’s no rea- think there should be at the very budgetary revenues dropping to support measures, they should and putting out no number at all,” son why the government can’t do minimum some type of fi scal $280.8-billion. The report suggests shift their attention to a budget. he said. a budget for the next year even if outlook or fi scal update,” said that the federal debt will rise to “There is a role for the Depart- Mr. Macdonald said it isn’t a they would have to adjust things.” Kevin Page, who was Canada’s $962.3-billion in the 2020-2021 ment of Finance and the govern- matter of transparency that there “I don’t think much more of a fi rst parliamentary budget offi cer fi scal year, up from $710.2-billion ment to put some framework hasn’t been a budget. No one can delay is justifi able,” Mr. Conacher (PBO) from 2008 to 2013. the year before. That would mean on what they’re doing,” he said, “reasonably” say what the eco- said. Mr. Page, now the president the percentage of debt-to-GDP adding that he would hope to see nomic future will look like a year On the whole, Mr. Conacher of the Institute of Fiscal Studies would rise 17.6 points to 48.4 per a budget by some time in June to from now or what the spending said the government has tried to and Democracy at the University cent. plan a way forward. programs will cost a year from escape accountability by not con- of Ottawa, told The Hill Times Without a now. vening Parliament and proposing that the fi scal update would show fi scal update, Prime Minister He added an initial spending bill that would the size of the defi cit, and the the PBO Justin Trudeau that the need is give the government spending impact to revenues and spending. report is the has repeatedly so great in the powers with no parliamentary ac- He added that the government best indication stressed the short term that countability through 2021. should signal there will be an Canadians need to support there shouldn’t Aside from the forecasting of update and move “quickly” over have about the Canadians be long-term the PBO, the Offi ce of the Auditor the “next few months” to be able state of the through the planning. General has been asked by the to announce one. economy. coronavirus “We should House of Commons to perform “The government knows they “Right pandemic, but be creating and audits on emergency spending have to produce these sets of now we don’t has offered few implement- measures. But they are yet to documents sooner rather than really have details of a fi scal ing short-term be listed on the offi ce’s Planned later,” he said. “We are reading a fi scal plan, plan to drawback plans quickly Reports website. IMF [International Monetary other than we from emergency and rapidly,” Mr. Page said the “larger role” Fund] reports on Canada, we are have state- spending Mr. Macdonald for the Auditor General will be reading PBO reports on Canada, ments from measures. said. one or two years down the road. we should be reading the minister the fi nance The Hill Times “There will “There will be a signifi cant of fi nance’s fi scal update.” minister and photograph by be a time to role to make sure that we did Mr. Trudeau told reporters on the prime Andrew Meade start to tran- have appropriate checks and bal- May 4 that “a budget typically is minister that sition these ances [and] fi nancial controls in an expression of what people can they will do emergency the system,” he said. expect in the coming year, both whatever it takes to buffer the “I think [that] would be ap- plans to longer term benefi ts,” “Where Parliament and Ca- in terms of how the economy is blow of the virus,” he said. “That’s propriate so that we have some he said. “We aren’t at that point. nadians and the media are really going to unfold, what sort of mea- not a plan per se.” structure going forward,” Prof. Maybe we’ll be at that point in going to need the Auditor General sures are going to be brought in.” “Even in the fi scal update, Milligan said. September. Maybe we will be at is the more the ex-post review “And in normal times, it’s usu- there needs to be some essence of that point in the fall. But maybe audit,” Mr. Page said. “Making ally pretty accurate. Right now, a fi scal plan,” he said. Fiscal update should we will be in a second wave of sure these fi nancial controls were we’re in a situation where there is Mr. Page noted only the gov- the pandemic.” in place.” a tremendous degree of uncer- ernment—and not the PBO—can come but economy too Aaron Wudrick, federal direc- [email protected] tainty as to what the economy produce that plan. uncertain for budget, say tor of the Canadian Taxpayers The Hill Times could look like six months from Canadians will want to know Federation, said that if the gov- This is the fi rst of a three-part now,” he said. “While we are con- what will happen to Canada’s others ernment released a budget now, it series entitled Transparency, tinuing to be open and transpar- economy in the fall and how the Canadian Centre for Policy Al- would soon be out of date. Trust, and Transition, a look into ent, the refl ections on what points emergency fi scal measures will ternatives senior economist David “I believe transparency and government accountability and we might be able to present a get drawn back, as well as if there Macdonald said that there should accountability are extremely im- public trust around policy-making budget or even just an economic will be additional fi scal stimulus be a fi scal update, but only one that portant,” he said, “but if they were as the COVID-19 pandemic has update is ongoing.” to jump-start the economy, Mr. covers up to the end of the last fi s- to table a budget say now it would put public health authorities to The most recent fi scal update Page said. cal year at the end of last March. be out of date in a month.” the test, created economic havoc given by Finance Minister Bill He added that the government Mr. Macdonald said many He said that the government from coast to coast and changed Morneau (, Ont.) should also be planning to have a of those projections have not should be aiming to have a bud- politics in Canada. 38 MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Feature Events

Walk this way: Deputy Prime Parliamentary Minister Chrystia Freeland, Calendar pictured on May 5, 2020, arriving at the West Block for the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic Daviau, Wernick, sitting in the House. The Tarras to discuss Hill Times photograph by Andrew future of federal Meade public service

Privy Council Offi ce; and Lynda Tarras, former deputy Venture Law Corporation; Nikola Danaylov, founder, hosted by Rick Mercer, former host of The Rick Mercer on May 11 minister and head of BC Public Service Agency. The keynote speaker, author futurist, Singularity Media; Report. The CBC’s Anna Maria Tremonti will be honoured. federal government and public service have pivoted at Pam Draper, president and CEO, Bitvo; Justin Hartz- Tables are $7,500 and tickets are $750. For more infor- high speed to design and deliver major new programs. man, co-founder and CEO, CoinSmart; Peter-Paul Van mation on tables and sponsorship opportunities, contact MONDAY, MAY 11 With the workplace restrictions, public servants have all Hoeken, founder & CEO, FrontFundr; Cynthia Huang, Josh Gurfi nkel at jgurfi [email protected] or 416-955-0394. had to change how they work, as most are now working CEO and co-founder, Altcoin Fantasy; Austin Hubbel, TUESDAY, NOV. 3 House Not Sitting—The House has been suspended remotely, while still delivering the service required of CEO and co-founder, Consilium Crypto; Patrick Mandic, until Monday, May 25, and the spring schedule is still them. What does this mean for the short term and the CEO, Mavennet; Mark Morissette, co-founder & CEO, U.S. Presidential Election—The U.S. presidential not confi rmed due to the global pandemic. However, long term of government? How does this change what Foxquilt; Cato Pastoll, co-founder & CEO, Lending election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. U.S. during this adjournment time, a Special COVID-19 is expected and what can be done by the public service Loop; Bernd Petak, investment partner, Northmark President Donald Trump is the Republican candidate Pandemic Committee has been established, composed of the future? How do we attract the next generation of Ventures; Ali Pourdad, Pourdad Capital Partners, and former vice-president is the Democratic of all members of the House, to meet beginning on public servants? Monday, May 11, 2 p.m.-2:45 p.m., Family Offi ce; Richard Prior, global head of policy and candidate. The winner is scheduled to be inaugurated Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and as of May 7, on Thursdays EDT. https://register.gotowebinar.com research, FDATA; Richard Remillard, president, Remi- on Jan. 20, 2021. as well. The Wednesday meeting will be in person, FRIDAY, MAY 8—MONDAY, MAY 18 llard Consulting Group; Jennifer Reynolds, president & THURSDAY, NOV. 12 while the Tuesday and Thursday sessions will be held CEO, Toronto Finance International; Jason Saltzman, virtually. As per the original sitting calendar, if the Canadian Tulip Festival—The Canadian Tulip partner, Gowling WLG Canada; James Wallace, co-chair Liberal Party National Convention—The Liberal House resumes on May 25, it will sit for four weeks, Festival, a not-for-profi t charitable organization, is and co-CEO, Exponential; Alan Wunsche, CEO & chief Party of Canada announced the 2020 Liberal National until its scheduled adjournment on June 23, but none dedicating its programming this year to commemorat- token offi cer, Tokenfunder; and Danish Yusuf, founder Convention will be hosted in Ottawa, from Nov. 12-15. of this has been confi rmed yet. The House was also ing the role Canadians played in the Liberation of the and CEO, Zensurance. For more information, please For more information, please contact: media@liberal. scheduled to adjourn again for three months and to re- Netherlands 75 years ago while celebrating the Gift of visit: https://fi ntechandfunding.com/. ca, 613-627-2384. turn in the fall on Monday, Sept. 21, for three straight Tulips that led to the festival, from Friday, May 8, to FRIDAY, AUG. 21 Conservative Party National Convention—The weeks. It was scheduled to adjourn for one week and to Monday, May 18. While the tulips will still bloom in Conservatives will hold a convention in Quebec City sit again from Oct. 19 until Nov. 6. It was scheduled to Commissioners Park, Tulip Festival programming will Conservative Party Leadership—The federal from Nov. 12-14. For more information, please contact break again for one week and to sit again from Nov. 16 be presented on virtual platforms. The public is asked Conservative Party’s Leadership Election Organizing 1-866-808-8407. to Dec. 11. And that would be it for 2020. We’ll up- not to travel to the Tulip Gardens this year, but instead Committee, also known as LEOC, announced on April The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. date you once the House calendar has been confi rmed. to allow the Canadian Tulip Festival to bring the tulips, 29 that Aug. 21 is the deadline for mail-in ballots, Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or governmental Senate Not Sitting—The Senate has extended its and tulip-related activities and entertainment, into after the leadership was suspended on March 26 due to event in a paragraph with all the relevant details under the suspension due to the COVID-19 virus until June 2. the comfort and safety of their homes. Festival-goers the global pandemic. The party says the winner will be subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@hilltimes. The June possible sitting days were June 1, 5, 8, 12, will be asked to visit www.tulipfestival.ca to take a announced once the ballots can be safely counted. com by Wednesday at noon before the Monday paper or by 15, and 19. The Senate was scheduled to sit June virtual garden tour through the 300,000 tulip blooms THURSDAY, OCT. 15 Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We can’t guaran- 2-4; June 9-11; June 16-18; and June 22, 23, it was in Ottawa’s Commissioner’s Park while also enjoying tee inclusion of every event, but we will defi nitely do our scheduled to break on June 24 for St. Jean Baptiste music, theatre, and memories on the Festival’s TulipTV PPF Testimonial Dinner and Awards—Join us at the best. Events can be updated daily online, too. Day; and it was scheduled to sit June 25 and June 26. YouTube channel. 33rd annual event to network and celebrate as the The Hill Times The Senate was scheduled to break from June 29 until TUESDAY, MAY 12 Public Policy Forum honours Canadians who have made Sept. 22. The Senate’s possible September sitting days their mark on policy and leadership. Anne McLellan are Sept. 21, 25, 28. It’s scheduled to sit Sept. 22-24 Webinar With Mark Jaccard—Mark Jaccard, author and Senator Peter Harder will take their place among a Extra! Extra! and Sept. 29-Oct. 1, with a possible sitting day on of The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming cohort of other stellar Canadians who we’ve honoured Friday, Oct. 2. The possible Senate sitting days are Oct. Myths That Hinder Progress, will be hosting a webinar over the last 33 years, people who have dedicated ReReadad tthehe ffullull 5, 9, 19, 23, 26, and 30. It’s scheduled to sit Oct. on Tuesday, May 12, at 1 p.m. EDT and will identify themselves to making Canada a better place through 6-8; it takes a break from Oct. 12-16; it will sit Oct. the laws, regulations that governments can and must policy leadership and public service. The gala event ParliamentaParliamentaryry 20-22; and Oct. 27-29. The November possible Senate use to cut CO2 emissions. EventBrite. will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Metro Toronto days are: Nov. 2, 6, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30. It’s scheduled WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W., Toronto. CCalendaralendar to sit Nov. 3-5; it will take a break from Nov. 9-13; SATURDAY, OCT. 24 it will sit Nov. 17-19; and Nov. 24-26. The possible Canada’s Foremost Fintech Conference FFCON20— December Senate sitting days are: Dec. 4, 7, and 11. Featuring high-growth start-ups and leading industry Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—The Parliamen- online The Senate is scheduled to sit Dec. 1-3; Dec. 8-10 and experts across fi ntech sectors including digital banking, tary Press Gallery Dinner happens on Saturday, Oct. it will sit Dec. 14-18. We’ll also update you once the P2P fi nance, AI, capital markets, Wealthtech, pay- 24, in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Welling- Senate calendar has been confi rmed. ments, crypto, and blockchain. July 8-9. Speakers ton Street in Ottawa. After COVID-19: the Future of the Public Service—A include: Robert Asselin, senior director public policy, webinar hosted by the Pearson Centre for Progres- BlackBerry; Paul Schulte, founder and editor, Schulte FRIDAY, OCT. 30 sive Policy, the panellists will include Debi Daviau, Research; Craig Asano, founder and CEO, NCFA; CJF Awards Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence in Jour- president of the Professional Institute of the Public George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO, Balance; Julien nalism—The Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards will Service of Canada; Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Brazeau, partner, Deloitte; Alixe Cormick, president, be held on Oct. 30, 2020, at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto,

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Mr. Lavoie is a former Liberal staffer resented Shefford, Que., from 2015 to 2019, at Quebec’s national assembly, including and later as assistant to Liberal MP Angelo having been deputy chief of staff to then- Iacono, who represents Alfred-Pellan, Que. Quebec families minister Sébastian Proulx. Before coming to Ottawa to work for hill climbers He later was a special adviser to Mr. Proulx Mr. Breton, Mr. Bowles had interned in the as minister of education, and had earlier now-former MP’s constituency offi ce over worked in Mr. Proulx’s offi ce as the then- the summer of 2017. He has a bachelor’s Liberal MNA for Jean-Talon, Que. degree in political science and economics by Laura Ryckewaert Also unmentioned to date is the fact from the University of British Columbia, that Rachel Desjardins followed Mr. and while at school was involved in the Duclos to his new portfolio after the post- Young Liberals of Canada, among other election cabinet shuffl e in November 2019, extracurriculars. Treasury Board continuing as senior executive assistant Matthew Whittington is director of to the minister. Ms. Desjardins previously policy to Mr. O’Regan, while Cheryl Cardi- fi lled a similar role in Mr. Duclos’ offi ce nal is director of Indigenous relations and as families minister throughout the last reconciliation. President Duclos Parliament. Also currently tackling policy work Marjorie Michel is chief of staff to Mr. in Mr. O’Regan’s offi ce is Kevin Deagle, Duclos. senior policy adviser; Hilary Travis, senior policy adviser and Western and Northern hires new policy, Minister O’Regan adds two new adviser; and Emerson Vandenberg, policy and Ontario regional affairs adviser. policy advisers Héléna Botelho has also joined Mr. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan’s team. She marked her fi rst day communications aides O’Regan has a few new faces in his min- as executive assistant to the minister on isterial offi ce, including two new policy March 9. advisers. Ms. Botelho tions and issues Natural has spent roughly Meanwhile, Natural management. She Resources the last year and Resources Minister Seamus spent most of the Minister a half working for last Parliament Seamus Invest in Canada O’Regan has a couple of new as a constitu- O’Regan, as executive as- ency assistant to left, pictured sistant for chief hires in his offi ce, including then-Liberal MP with Finance investor services. for Orléans, Ont., Minister Bill Invest in Canada Andrew Leslie Jesse Hudson as policy . Morneau in was created Karl Sassev- the West Block by the federal adviser for Indigenous ille is director government in Marie-France Proulx on Feb. 4. Héléna Botelho is back of communica- 2017 to act as a has joined Mr. Duclos’ The Hill Times on the Hill. Photograph relations and reconciliation. tions and issues global investment ministerial team. Photograph photograph by courtesy of LinkedIn courtesy of LinkedIn management, and promotion body; reasury Board President Jean-Yves Andrew Meade Duclos along with Ms. currently Small Business, Export Promo- T has been busy of late, including Proulx, also oversees special assistant for tion, and International Trade Minister Mary as chair of the special cabinet committee parliamentary affairs and issues man- Jesse Hudson offi cially joined Mr. Ng is the minister responsible. on COVID-19, and the minister has wel- agement Jade Mallette, who previously O’Regan’s team as a policy adviser for Before joining Invest in Canada, Ms. comed a number of new staff to his offi ce Indigenous relations and reconciliation on Hill Climbers worked in tandem with Ms. Proulx as a Hill Botelho spent almost two years working since ’ last update, including Feb. 20. Michael Paramathasan aide to Mr. Leslie during the last Parlia- for Mr. Duclos as families minister, ending as a senior policy ment. She’s a former environment and natural as information management manager and adviser. In a more belated update, Jean-Luc resources offi cer for Champagne and executive assistant to the chief of staff. Mr. Para- Lavoie joined the Treasury Board presi- Aishihik First Nations, a self-governing Previously, Victoria Dempster was Mr. mathasan spent dent’s offi ce as regional affairs director for First Nation whose homeland stretches O’Regan’s executive assistant, a post she the vast major- Québec City in December. Before then, he from southern Yukon into northwest British fi rst took up in December 2018, back when ity of 2019 as had spent almost a year as a senior adviser Columbia. Through this work, last year, Mr. O’Regan was minister of veterans af- a senior policy to Mr. Duclos as minister of families, chil- Ms. Hudson took part in the U.S. State fairs. She’s now joined Innovation, Science, adviser to then- dren, and social development Department’s International Visitor Leader- and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains’ science and sport ship Program, a professional exchange Kirsty Regional affairs advisers are com- offi ce as regional affairs adviser for the minister program, which saw her visit Denver, Duncan mon fi xtures in ministerial offi ces across Atlantic. , having cabinet, including in the Prime Minister’s Colorado and a number of cities in Alaska Paul Moen is chief of staff to Mr. Michael Paramathasan fi rst arrived on Offi ce. However, given the less-common to learn about renewable energy and tech- O’Regan. Also currently working in Mr. is a senior policy adviser Parliament Hill specifi city of his regional focus—combined nologies in the Arctic. O’Regan’s offi ce are: Damien O’Brien, to the Treasury Board in mid-January of with the fact that Mr. Duclos is the Lib- Nathan senior adviser for stakeholder relations; president. Photograph last year. eral MP for Québec, Que.—Hill Climbers Bowles has been Alexandre Deslongchamps, director of courtesy of LinkedIn He’s a former inquired about Mr. Lavoie’s role and the hired on as a pol- operations; Carlene Variyan, director of Queen’s Park reason for his focus on Québec City, but icy adviser for the communications; Ian Burke Cameron, staffer, having spent roughly two years as a was directed to a section of the Treasury Quebec region to press secretary; Brendon Legault, com- senior adviser to then-Ontario government Mr. O’Regan. Tracey Board Secretariat’s policies for ministers’ munications adviser and issues manager; and consumer services minister He’s been Georgie Summers-Lubar MacCharles offi ces outlining approved job titles that , special assistant . For two years before that, Mr. minister’s can appoint staff to, including “a working on the for communications and Atlantic regional Paramathasan was working for the U.S. maximum of one regional affairs director Hill since August affairs adviser; Samir Kassam, legislative State Department in the executive offi cer per region,” with the appointment “subject 2018, starting as assistant; and Connor Moen, executive as- of the Consul General of the United States to prior written and on-going agreement of Nathan Bowles is Mr. a parliamentary sistant to the chief of staff (to whom he is in Toronto. the Prime Minister’s Offi ce.” Currently, Mr. O’Regan’s new Quebec assistant to then- not related). Other past jobs held by Mr. Para- Lavoie is the only regional affairs director regional adviser. Photograph Liberal MP Pierre [email protected] mathasan include contract work as a listed in Mr. Duclos’ offi ce. courtesy of Nathan Bowles Breton, who rep- The Hill Times consultant on Canadian energy markets for the World Trade Group in Toronto, as an associate for strategic alliance and busi- ness development for Pivotal Labs, and as a consultant on global commerce strategy and the Canadian federal government’s old Economic Action Plan for Brand Finance. He’s also been an adviser for strategy and operations for IBM, amongst other past ex- perience indicated on his LinkedIn profi le. Mr. Paramathasan’s addition helps bal- ance out Mr. Duclos’ policy team after the recent departure of policy adviser Manel Menouar, who has since joined Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s offi ce, as re- cently reported by Hill Climbers. We provideprovide fullfull service corporate,corporate, Dylan Marando is director of policy ggovernmentoveernment anandd sociasociall caterincateringg in to Mr. Duclos, and along with Mr. Para- the greater Ottawa-Gatineau region. mathasan currently oversees senior policy advisers Caitlin Szymberski, and Reserve your next event today! Jean-Sébastien Bock, and policy advisers François-Olivier Picard and Lionel Fritz Adimi. BASTIENPRIZANTOPTOMETRY.COM Providing great food, staff and party planning since 1984! Marie-France Proulx is another new addition to the Treasury Board president’s 613.236.6066 • [email protected] www.goodiescatering.com • 613-741-5643 • [email protected] offi ce as special assistant for communica- Answering the Call

For 140 years Bell Canada has been committed to connecting Canadians to each other and the world. We’re proud to enable the millions of connections taking place over our network every day. And the demand on our networks has never been greater, especially in these trying times. The COVID-19 situation brings a multitude of new challenges and, while it remains difficult to foresee what the full impact on Canadian society and our economy will be, we hope that the following efforts are making a positive difference. Over the last number of weeks, we have: • Waived extra usage fees for residential Internet customers. • Provided customers who have Turbo Hubs and other mobile Internet devices with extra usage and credits. • Waived Roam BetterTM and pay-per-use roaming fees for all destinations until the end of April to assist those away from home trying to get back to Canada. • Offered free previews of news, family, lifestyle and entertainment TV channels and free trials of Crave. • Provided flexible payment options for clients facing financial challenges. • Implemented a fully assisted self-installation and repair program. • Provided an automatic extension of our device return policy to 30 days. • Partnered with the Canadian Medical Association on a public service campaign directing Canadians to reliable information on COVID-19. • Supported hospitals, shelters and social agencies requiring emergency mobile communications services with thousands of complimentary phones, tablets and airtime. • Increased our Bell Let’s Talk program to support organizations supporting Canadians by $5 million with immediate financial contributions to: – Canadian Red Cross – Canadian Mental Health Association – Kids Help Phone –Revivre – Strongest Families Institute • Worked in partnership with education ministries and school boards across the country to ensure online accessibility for students and families in need. • Accelerated the build out of our Wireless Home Internet service to cover 137,000 additional homes in rural communities. • Donated 1.5 million protective masks for use by frontline workers throughout Canada. This is an extraordinarily difficult time for all of us, and my appreciation goes out to the over 50,000 Bell team members for stepping up throughout this crisis as we build on our company’s long legacy of always being there when Canadians need us. Thank you for keeping Canada connected.

Mirko Bibic President and CEO