Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 C T in a90-secondvideorunonline interviews, and, inparticular, ized working classinrecent has reachedouttotheunion- ing it. labour leaderssays heisn’tbuy- one ofCanada’smostinfluential gists andaveteran pollster—but for theparty, say politicalstrate- message that could pay dividends working classisawell-timed boss Jerry Dias through union go he’llto have strategists, but a winner,say to workingclass O’Toole’s pitch News egy duringaone-day in-person and theirfallparliamentary strat- Senators onelectionreadiness briefed theparty’s142MPsand fall strategy readiness and on election Conservatives Deltell brief DeLorey, News BY PETER MAZEREEUW BY ABBAS RANA BY ABBAS THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO.1762 Biotechnology policy briefingpp. 15-22 Michael Mr. O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) Harris and atopoppositionstaffer he Conservative Houseleader O’Toole’s olive branch tothe onservative Party LeaderErin

p.9 Continued onpage25 Continued onpage 24

COVID-19 Experts weigh

in on Public opinionpolls: where the federal political partiescurrently standinsurveys parties either. Seestory by Abbas Rana onp.6 don’t want to beseenbeing‘pushedaround’ by the opposition The federal Liberalsdon’t want anelection this fall,but also Poll wasreleased Sept.8 Green 6% NDP 19% Conservative 32% Liberal 34% Leger News Throne Speech,say someGrits furthertilting toleft the in ideological centre open by LiberalsTrudeau’s risk leaving C anada Poll released Sept.4 Green 7.5% NDP 19.2% Conservative 31.05% Liberal 33.2% Nanos Research

democracy? Not necessarily mean the end of American Would twoof termsTrump ’ s P oliti c s Poll released Sept.4 Green 7% NDP 18% Conservative 31% Liberal 33% Abacus Data

and G overnment Gwynne Dyer p.11 Poll released Sept.2 Green Party4% NDP 17% Conservative 35% Liberals 35% Angus Reid

N ews HOH p.2 p a p er Poll released Aug.21 Green 7% NDP 18% Conservative 32% Liberal 35% Ipsos Andrew Meade photograph by The HillTimes Andrew Meade Andrew Meade Times photographby meeting. Party caucus for aConservative Building inOttawa John A.Macdonald arriving attheSir Tausha Michaud and hischiefofstaff campaign manager, DeLorey, national 9, 2020,withFred pictured onSept. Leader ErinO’Toole, Conservative Party Newly elected Conservatives. open tothe moderate middle left, leavingthe to theideological is tiltingfurther worried theparty of hisMPsare Sept. 23.Some Throne Speechon will unveilhis on Aug.18,2020, pictured inOttawa , Prime Minister Michel Drapeau&Joshua Juneau p.14 ’s system’s in chaos military justice The Hill The Hill

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER14,2020$5.00 S officials who areacknowledging tions, communications between through communications intercep- essarily comeintoothernets.” the intelligencenetthat don’tnec- of information that may comeinto Hill Times. “I thinktherearekinds Mr. Fyffeinaninterview withThe [open] toreceive information,” said ears, linesofinquiry, andsources should have every possible setof early warning ofapandemic, you Security andIntelligenceStudies. of theCanadian Association of including GregFyffe, president early warning andpreparedness,” and domestichealthsurveillance, practices withregard toglobal “important questionsaboutbest a numberofexpertsdove into and theGlobalHealthCrisis, entitled Security, Intelligence, ernance Innovation publication the CentreforInternational Gov- national security. the changingnature ofthreats to represent a “wake-up call” about the events ofthepastfew months liance, andanothersuggesting sharing withintheFive Eyes al- it could “undermine” intelligence ID-19 pandemic, withonesaying United States duringtheCOV intelligence information from the increasingly“politicized” about News security threats new national about Canada’s ‘wake-up call’ pandemic a say COVID-19 intelligence, ‘politicized’ U.S. alarm over Experts sound BY MIKE LAPOINTE “For example, you may pickup, “When you aretrying toget In arecentpublication from perts aresoundingthealarm ecurity andintelligenceex- Continued onpage 4 Copps Sheila p.10 - 2 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

inviting friends over to Brixton’s to days. “I miss having places to wear fancy catch up. “If you can’t make it and wish you dresses. #pandemiclife,” tweeted Emily could buy me a beer, [please] send your $5 Haws, an associate producer with CBC’s here,” he tweeted, along with a link direct- Power and Politics program and a former ing followers to donate to the party. Mr. reporter at The Hill Times. “I now have a col- Heard on the Hill Soule, previously a senior media strategist lection of gowns from Parliamentary Press with the party during last fall’s election Gallery Dinners gone by in my basement,” campaign and aide to figures like Thomas added ‘s Kristy Kirkup. by Palak Mangat Mulcair, Trent Wotherspoon, Nicole Until 2021, or 2022! Sarauer, and Rachel Notley, is now listed as a director of communications to NDP Journo quits paper, Leader . Frequent national affairs columnist and commentator Tom joins Ricochet ‘Those are his Parkin, who sought the party’s nomination Award-winning journalist Christopher last year in the riding of Parkdale-High Curtis announced last week that he’s leav- Park, Ont., sent his wishes and joked: ing the Montreal Gazette to work with “Judging from your beer choice I thought Ricochet Media as a crowdfunded investi- pyjamas’: O’Toole your 40th birthday was before this Wednes- gative reporter. “I’m betting my future on day.” this experimental new model of journalism, Mr. Soule’s ale of preference appears to and hoping you’ll fund me to do the kind of be a Labatt 50, regarded by National Post deep, context-rich stories I can’t really do at opts for suit and tie reporter Christopher Nardi as “’s the Gazette,” Mr. Curtis wrote in a column most underrated beer.” posted to a Ricochet webpage. Mr. Curtis re- Ms. Ashton, meanwhile, tweeted out flected that more than a decade ago, he was a link encouraging supporters to sign up a construction worker and college dropout, to catch thrilling with the party. “Normally, when political failing to get into journalism school at Con- staff make birthday cards for their bosses, cordia University. Since then, he’s battled it it’s devoid of any politics but, let’s be hon- out with Liberal MP in the ring est, that wouldn’t be Niki,” read the web- after bragging about his Muay Thai skills page, which featured a photo of Ms. Ashton on Twitter; seen multiple colleagues take Raptors playoff game with her twin sons. “So instead of centering buyouts or leave the industry to take a stab this around her, pretend it’s your birthday at public relations; and worked on stories and you’re blowing out the candles on a that have helped in coroner inquests. Many Twitter cake. What is the one thing you would wish users poked fun for to make Canada a more fair and just at Conservative society?” Leader Erin The appeals come as election specula- O'Toole's choice tion begins to heat up, as Parliament is set of attire when to resume in less than two weeks on Sept. he tweeted a 23. That will usher in a new Throne Speech photo of himself and subsequent confidence vote which, if watching a all opposition parties withhold their sup- Raptors game last port of, could topple the government and week wearing a trigger an election. suit and tie. Some Meanwhile, Ms. Ashton also posted a thought he was photo on Facebook with her twin boys, two channelling his birthday cakes, and two candles, an 8 and a inner professional zero. “Lucky to share this special day with basketball team family—including my kids who insisted it owner vibe. was their celebration and their cake too. Just watch me: Reporter Christopher Curtis is Photograph Also I’m definitely 38 and not 80—the store opting to work with Ricochet Media as a new courtesy of Erin ran out of 3s!” crowdfunded investigative reporter. Photograph O'Toole’s Twitter courtesy of Ricochet Twitter’s screengrab This just in: Parliamentary Press “I believe I’ll be the first journalist to quit a full-time job to launch a crowd- ew Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole white striped polos, but that might be a far Gallery Dinner punted to 2021 funded newsletter in Canada,” he wrote. “If Nwas among the millions of cry from his “true blue” suit and run a bit Hill media, MPs, Senators, diplomats, po- the experiment works, I hope it provides a who caught the Raptors bug on Sept. 9, too close to the Liberal red. But still, other liticos, Hill staffers, and lobbyists will have blueprint for how to do meaningful jour- and watched a thrilling, double overtime options are out there, just sayin’. to wait until next year to rub elbows (prob- nalism amid the wreckage of a collapsing Game 6 victory against the Boston Celt- Meanwhile, comedian and actor Mark ably literally) at the annual Parliamentary industry.” Mr. Curtis will split his time be- ics from the comfort of a swanky looking Critch made fun of Mr. O’Toole’s TV. “I re- Press Gallery Dinner. Initially pushed from tween Montreal and Val-d-‘Or, and his new setup. Did I say it was thrilling? In normal ally hope that the money to renovate Stor- May to Oct. 24 at the Sir John A. Macdonald venture has already gained the support of times, politicos in Ottawa would have noway goes to a bigger TV #WeTheNorth Building, the historic annual event, which Anishinaabe writer and comedian Ryan watched the game in a crowded, noisy #RaptorsVsCeltics #cdnpoli.” attracts about 500 people, was postponed McMahon, former Montreal city councillor bar, and when there’s only one basketball again because of the global pandemic and Justine McIntyre, and former Globe and squad for the entire country, which just this time the press gallery isn’t scheduling a Mail reporter Daniel Leblanc, who recently happens to be the defending championship NDPers ring in birthdays A trio of Dippers celebrated their possible date. The press gallery’s executive made the move to Radio-Canada. team, rallying behind said team is nearly birthdays last week, with NDP MP Niki impossible to avoid. The Hill Times Ashton marking her 38th and rookie MP But some jokes started flying around on alum Emily Matthew Green and longtime party aide Prime minister announces ch- Twitter after Mr. O’Toole tweeted a photo Haws, right, George Soule bidding farewell to their 30s. of himself watching the Raptors game and and Globe and ch-ch-changes to senior ranks “BEER … in my 30s,” Mr. Soule tweeted, looking like he was a basketball coach. Mail reporter of federal public service Wearing a suit and tie, and sitting alone Kristy Kirkup Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an- in a living room, but looking happy, Mr. reminisced last nounced some changes in the senior ranks O’Toole tweeted: “What an exhilarating week about of the public service on Sept. 8. Christyne game. Let’s do this. @Raptors! #raptors their past Tremblay, currently deputy minister of #wethenorth.” looks at the Natural Resources, becomes deputy clerk “I forgot to put on my basketball suit Parliamentary of the Privy Council, associate secretary to and tie. I am chagrined,” joked Toronto city Press Gallery the cabinet and deputy minister of Inter- councillor Gord Perks, who ran for the Dinner, which governmental Affairs, effective Sept. 9. NDP in the 2006 federal election but lost to has been Jean-François Tremblay, deputy minister incumbent Liberal Mario Silva. postponed of Indigenous Services, becomes deputy Liberal MP , having to 2021. minister of Natural Resources, effective some fun of his own, replied “those are his Photograph Sept. 21. Christiane Fox, deputy minister of pyjamas.” courtesy of Intergovernmental Affairs, become deputy “Erin loves basketball so much he gets Emily Haws’ minister of Indigenous Services, effective dressed up like the team owner for all the Twitter Sept. 21. Catherine Blewett is the deputy games,” remarked another user. clerk of the Privy Council. Jonathan Fried, There’s no shortage of fashion inspira- sent out a note dated Sept. 8 to all full- coordinator of international economic tion for Mr. O’Toole if he wants to take time members. “The gallery executive has relations with Global Affairs Canada advice from fellow politicos next time; decided that the Press Gallery Dinner will and personal representative to the prime he could lean on Toronto Mayor John be rescheduled due to the pandemic. The minister on the G20; Janet King, associ- Tory, whose snazzy gold-and-black jacket executive looks forward to hosting mem- ate deputy minister of Public Services and has become a game day staple, or opt bers and their guests at the gala next year,” Procurement; and Anne-Marie Smart, for a more casual pants-and-polo combo Longtime NDP staffer George Soule marked wrote Press Gallery president Jordan Press, senior adviser to the Privy Council Office, inspired by the team’s head coach, Nick the end of his 30s last week with a Labatt 50 adding that details will be announced soon. all recently retired from the public service. Nurse. To inject some real colour, he could beer at Brixton’s. Photograph courtesy of George The postponement of the hot-ticket event [email protected] tap into the coaching squad’s pink-and- Soule’s Twitter had some reminiscing about the good old The Hill Times DEAR CABINET MINISTERS:

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TRANSFORM CANADA

WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU

INVEST IN A JUST RECOVERY TO BUILD BACK BETTER AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Any economic recovery plan must: Invest in bold climate action: Create green jobs by Tackle economic inequality: Establish a guaranteed investing $81 billion over 5 years to move Canada towards $500/week income for all and raise billions to help pay for zero emissions; ensure stimulus funding does not go to it with a 1% wealth tax on the super rich. polluters; raise billions by ending handouts to fossil fuel corporations. Advance racial justice: Divert federal funds from policing to invest in community-led supports, harm reduction Uphold Indigenous rights: Immediately address the tactics, and social services; establish permanent drinking water crisis on reserves and pass legislation for residency for all migrants. Free, Prior and Informed Consent for Indigenous Peoples.

CROWDFUNDED BY LEADNOW MEMBERS 4 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

“The politicization of intel- ligence at the moment under Experts sound alarm over Trump has a lot of characteristics of the way intelligence operates in authoritarian, one-party regimes, where intelligence agencies tell ‘politicized’ U.S. intelligence, the leader what they want to hear, rather than the truth,” said Mr. Walton. “What’s happening in the United States is Trump apply- ing an authoritarian playbook say COVID-19 pandemic a to domestic institutions and U.S. society itself.”

Ottawa’s security and ‘wake-up call’ about Canada’s intelligence apparatus ‘enmeshed with the American framework’ Irvin Studin, founder, editor- new national security threats in-chief and publisher of Global Brief magazine, told The Hill Times that he believes “all of Ot- Prime Minister Justin tawa’s security and intelligence Bitter partisanship Trudeau, left, and apparatus is enmeshed with the U.S. President Donald American framework, which is in the U.S. could Trump. If Mr. Trump is only one of the pressures and re-elected in November, poles we need to manage this undermine 'Canada’s intelligence century.” intelligence sharing community will have to “China wasn’t relevant at Con- maintain a relationship federation—it’s hyper relevant within the Five Eyes that will be distrustful today, it’s not an abstract reality, on both sides,' says it’s the most significant country and Ottawa needs to Greg Fyffe, president in the world, it’s a machine that’s of the Canadian close to us, in all respects, [includ- rethink its security Association of Security ing] economic security and demo- and Intelligence graphics,” said Mr. Studin, who is and intelligence Studies. The Hill Times also the president of the Institute apparatus this century photograph by Andrew for 21st Century Questions. Meade, photograph “Russia is to the east of Europe as the Arctic melts and courtesy of the White as we imagined in the Cold War, House but because the Arctic is melting, ‘our mental maps will it’s a new reality, so we juxtapose Russia across the Arctic Ocean,” need to migrate North said Mr. Studin. “Those two new expect a return to the belief that biological security and pandemics strains put on the U.S. intelligence borders suggest that much of our and West.’ the intelligence community will [being] a clear example.” community to speak truth to mental maps will need to migrate give policy-neutral advice and a “We are witnessing the chang- power, which is the whole purpose North and West.” reassertion of more traditional ing nature of national security, of an intelligence community, Continued from page 1 Mr. Studin said that in regards U.S. foreign policy goals,” he and intelligence needed to meet under President Trump,” said Mr. to the Five Eyes alliance, it’s “too there is a problem in their country, wrote. those threats, by definition, also Walton. He said that it’s “crucially colonial and too 20th-century a but are not reporting it,” said Mr. When asked about the role of needs to change,” said Mr. Walton. important” to establish a coronavi- construct for us to manage this Fyffe, who was also the executive the Five Eyes intelligence com- “Specifically, in terms of biologi- rus commission to investigate and new world in which we’re operat- director of international assess- munity moving forward, Mr. Fyffe cal threats, they can come from figure out exactly what happened ing.” ment staff in the Privy Council said all five have similar operat- naturally occurring pathogens— with the intelligence that got to the “We’re thinking about this [se- Office from 2000 to 2008. ing principles; one of which is we’re witnessing the effects of a Oval Office, and Mr. Trump’s ac- curity and intelligence] organism “The point here is to have that the collection and reporting zoonotic pathogen, or one that tions or inactions after receiving it. which [operates] in a democratic every possible receptor open and of material is “policy relevant, but has travelled from animals to On Sept. 9, it was reported that world in which we’re comfort- tuned into possibilities,” said Mr. policy neutral.” humans.” Mr. Trump admitted to conceal- able, but which does not provide Fyffe, who also argued that one “When you write an assess- There have been moments in ing the true threat of coronavirus us with either the raw intelligence of the advantages of good intel- ment, you’re giving it to a deci- the past when the U.S. intelligence back in February. Journalist Bob or the psychological coverage ligence is that it’s “immediate and sion-maker that you think needs community has been dangerously Woodward wrote in his new book that we need to manage our own it’s policy neutral.” it because they have an impor- politicized, according to Mr. Wal- Rage that Trump told him that he circumstances as a country,” said Mr. Fyffe wrote that “bitter tant decision to make, and your ton, pointing to the administration knew that COVID-19 was deadly Mr. Studin. partisanship” in U.S. politics is information is highly relevant, but of former U.S. president Richard but wanted to “play it down” If Canada relies too heavily on leading to a “politicization of you’re not telling what the policy Nixon as well as former U.S. presi- because he didn’t “want to create the United States, said Mr. Studin, intelligence” in his contribution to should be,” said Mr. Fyffe. “That is dent George W. Bush’s unfounded a panic.” Part of the president’s “we become vulnerable to their CIGI’s series. That politiciza- critical to the credibility of intel- claims around the existence of taped interview with Mr. Wood- very flawed judgment and their tion, he wrote, could “undermine ligence.” weapons of mass destruction ward was released last week, often very bad intelligence.” intelligence sharing within the (WMDs) in Iraq. which set off a media firestorm. Here in Canada, the quaran- Five Eyes alliance”—a network 21st century to be ‘an age “What we are witnessing [now] The book is set to be released tine “has put the country to sleep that includes the United States, are unprecedented challenges and on Sept. 15. for four months,” but a coun- Canada, the United Kingdom, of globalized threats and try that’s in trouble economi- New Zealand, and Australia. challenges’ Calder Walton, cally and strategically cannot be “What’s clear now, what’s Calder Walton, assistant direc- assistant director asleep for months and then be happening in the U.S. now, is tor of the Applied History Project of the Applied expected to pivot out, according unequivocally politicization,” Mr. at Harvard Kennedy School’s History Project at to Mr. Studin. Fyffe told The Hill Times. “The Belfer Center for Science and Harvard Kennedy “We’re coming out of it in personnel has been politicized, International Affairs told The Hill School’s Belfer a stupor, expecting that the the product has been politicized, Times that we need to “re-think” Center for Science machine will right itself, and there’s no equivocation here that what we mean by national secu- and International it won’t—it will either disinte- the intelligence is being politi- rity in the wake of the COVID-19 Affairs, says ‘we grate over time, or we’ll become cized.” pandemic, and that the 21st centu- are witnessing the extremely [vulnerable] economi- If U.S. President Donald ry is going to be an age of global- changing nature of cally and strategically without Trump is re-elected in November, ized threats and challenges. national security, even realizing it,” said Mr. Studin. Mr. Fyffe argued in his August 24 “This is a wake-up call, if and intelligence “Ottawa doesn’t have a mobiliza- report, COVID-19 and Geopoli- one were needed, for the chang- needed to meet tion capacity—that can only come tics: Security and Intelligence in ing nature of threats to national those threats, by from the political level in the end, a World Turned Upside Down, security,” said Mr. Walton. “I think definition, also but that’s not part of our culture that “Canada’s intelligence com- it’s safe to say that we have com- needs to change.’ because we’ve had 150 years of munity will have to maintain a pletely missed the threat posed by Photograph strategic serenity by and large on relationship that will be distrust- other globalized and global non- courtesy of Calder the homeland.” ful on both sides.” If former vice- state threats to national security Walton [email protected] president Joe Biden wins, “we can and international security, [with] The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 5 Opinion The need for fundraising urgency

Prime was to paint a picture of plight. It’s plausible that an Minister In other words, I’d have the letter say Justin something such as, “Dear Donor; It’s late at election is near and that Trudeau’s night, but I’m still in my office. I can’t help political but worry because bills are piling up on my plausibility is all political fundraising desk. Simply put, I need to pay off these fundraisers need to inject pitch. Image bills so I can focus on fighting for what you courtesy of and I believe in. But to do that, I desperately their pitches with a sense Liberal Party need your help right away. Please send in a of Canada donation; but don’t delay. Do it now!!” of urgency. And believe me, Another tactic is to tie a fundraising plea to a certain specific event. urgency is a key part of any If you’re going to release a TV ad on a certain date, you ask donors to help make fundraising message. sure you have the money to produce it on time. Deadlines increase urgency. By the way, since donors can also lose sages to their respective donors right now, put off till tomorrow what I can possibly do their contribution fervour during the time saying something like: “A federal election —the day after.” it takes them to find their cheque book, it’s might be just weeks away! We need to be My point is, as a fundraiser you don’t a good idea to urge them to donate on your ready! We need to quickly fill our election want to give donors the notion that it’s okay website, since that’s quicker. war chest! Send us as much money as soon to put off making a donation until the day At any rate, it should now be clear as as you can!! Time is of the essence!” after tomorrow, since the more time a donor to why fundraisers will embrace election Does this mean a federal election is re- has to think, the more time a donor has to rumours. ally in the offing? dream up excuses as to why contributing Any time an election is near or even Gerry Nicholls Nope. might be a bad idea. thought to be near, it will energize and mo- Post Partisan Pundit It just means it’s plausible that an elec- Excuses like, “I just made a donation to bilize a party’s donor base. tion is near and that plausibility is all politi- the cause two months ago, no need to make How could it not? cal fundraisers need to inject their pitches one now,” or “Sure, it’d be nice to help the Winning an election is always a top AKVILLE, ONT.—Rumours abound with a sense of urgency. party, but I’m trying to save money to buy a priority for party members, so there’s less Othese days that a federal election could And believe me, urgency is a key part of new set of golf clubs.” need for fundraisers to come up with tricks come soon. any fundraising message. This is why good fundraisers will always or tactics to stave off donor procrastination. And, I suspect, the people who are doing After all, without a sense of urgency do- frame their fundraising pitches, whether Anyway, if you know anyone who wants a lot to agitate such rumours are political nors might slip into a state of complacency, via mail or phone, in a way which suggests to be a fundraiser, pass along this column. fundraisers. which is a problem since complacent do- donors shouldn’t hesitate, even for a second, Do it now! Indeed, I’m pretty sure every political nors are much more likely to procrastinate when it comes to sending in dollars. Gerry Nicholls is a communications party, along with various political advocacy when it comes to making a contribution. One trick I liked to use when writing consultant. groups, are sending out fundraising mes- It’s like Oscar Wilde once said, “I never direct mail fundraising letters, for instance, The Hill Times INVESTING IN TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS ARE KEY TO BUILDING CANADA'S WORKFORCE Canada’s Building Trades Unions are an association of 14 international unions in the construction, maintenance and fabrication industries that represent 600,000 skilled trades workers. We employ a joint union/employer training system that allows apprentices to earn-while- they-learn, combining on-the-job training with theoretical and practical technical training. Each year our industry – through union members and our contractor partners - invests over $300 million to fund and operate 175 apprenticeship training and education facilities across Canada. These training centres produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world. VALUE ON DISPLAY. EVERY DAY. W W W . B U I L D I N G T R A D E S . C A 6 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

something in the Throne Speech that at least, is reflective of every Liberals risk leaving ideological party,” he said. Liberal MPs told The Hill Times that Mr. Trudeau has also invited his own caucus members centre open by tilting further to the to submit any ideas that they would like to be included in the government’s Throne Speech. left in Throne Speech, say some Grits Liberal MP (Don Valley North, Ont.) told The Hill Times that he has submitted his confidential advice to associate and it will become an uphill battle Veteran Finance Minister The Liberals do not for the governing party to win an Liberal (Ottawa-Vanier, Ont.). Some of the election a year from now, or even want an election, but MP Wayne issues that his constituents have after that. At the time of proroga- Easter totally told him are important include tion, different House committees don’t want to be seen dismissed urban transit, seniors’ care, and were investigating the WE Charity the housing affordability. scandal and some also speculated ‘pushed around’ by speculation He disagreed with his col- that the government prorogued of a fall leagues who think the Liberal opposition parties Parliament to metaphorically federal leadership is leaving the ideologi- change the channel, as the media election. He cal centre open to the Conserva- either, says Liberal coverage of the controversy had said it’s time tives. He said that the recovery overshadowed most other issues. political insider Greg to focus on phase of the pandemic requires Pollster Darrell Bricker of the recovery an economic stimulus, and many Ipsos said that, considering the MacEachern. phase of the governments around the world are polling numbers suggesting pandemic. providing one. Mr. Dong said he’s both main parties were tied in a The Hill Times not worried about left- or right- statistical dead heat, it would not BY ABBAS RANA photograph wing agendas, adding that now is be wise for the prime minister to by Andrew the time when effective leadership provoke an election. He said, ac- rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Meade is important to help people deal PLiberals are expected to tilt cording to his polling last month, with the negative health and eco- further to the left in their high- 58 per cent of Canadians did not nomic impact of COVID-19. stakes Sept. 23 Throne Speech, want an election. “For me, my focus is on the but some MPs and former can- about 18 months. The last election making national headlines in “If you’re setting up a Speech right stimulus that goes to the didates say they’re nervous that was held just shy of 11 months July, Liberal popularity has taken from the Throne in a minority public,” said Mr. Dong. “To stimu- would leave an opening in the ago, on Oct. 21, 2019. a nosedive. As of last week, the Parliament to trigger an election, late the economy, make sure that ideological centre, home to most “I think the party has gone Liberals were running neck and you better think that on the other people have money to spend look- Canadian voters and where the too far to the left,” said a Liberal neck with the Conservatives. side of this, that the public’s re- ing after [their families].” Conservatives can make gains in MP who spoke on a not-for-attri- According to a Leger poll sponse will be to say, ‘Well, that’s Mr. MacEachern said that Ca- the next federal election. bution basis to express his views released last week, the Liberals okay, because we want to have nadians right now are not paying Liberal MPs and former can- candidly. “They only look in one had the support of 34 per cent of one and right now.’ That’s not the attention to ideological dynamics didates told The Hill Times last direction.” Canadians, the Conservatives 32 case,” said Mr. Bricker, who is the of political parties. They are, he week that the hints they had re- Another agreed: “In my view, per cent, the NDP 19 per cent, and CEO Of Ipsos Public Affairs. “The said, focused on which party has a ceived about the Throne Speech, that’s a mistake. I hope the lead- the Green Party had the support only people who seem to want an better plan to help them with their which will set out the govern- ership will look into it before they of six per cent. The online poll of election are the guys on the other health and economic needs, in the ment’s agenda, suggested that finalize the [Throne] speech,” said 1,500 Canadians released on Sept. side.” recovery phase. Mr. MacEachern it would pave the way for new the second MP. 8 had a margin of error of plus or Liberal political insider said the Throne Speech will ad- initiatives on the environment In media interviews last week, minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 Greg MacEachern told The Hill dress what Canadians need to pull and the green economy, pharma- Mr. Trudeau declined to say if the times out of 20. Times that the government is themselves out of the pandemic. care, and other issues popular Throne Speech will have any time- Mr. Trudeau prorogued Parlia- consulting opposition parties to “They are paying more atten- with left-of-centre Canadians, and line for reducing the deficit, or any ment on Aug. 18. The House will see what initiatives they would tion to what their government would further increase the size of plan to balance the budget. He only come back on Sept. 23 with a like to see included in the Throne is doing about their concerns, the federal deficit. said that his government would Throne Speech that will spell out Speech. He conceded that in which I think chiefly would be It’s not clear if the government unveil an ambitious green agenda, the government’s plan to help order to win the confidence vote, about health and safety,” said Mr. is going to outline any concrete but did not get into specifics. the country recover from the at least one opposition party’s pri- MacEachern. “And then secondly plan in the speech for reducing “I know people are eager to pandemic. Mr. Trudeau said that orities would have to be included would be about the economy and the size of the debt or balancing see what’s going to be in the he prorogued Parliament to get a in the Throne Speech. jobs.” the budget. Failing to do so would Throne Speech and I’ve been very new mandate from Parliament. “The Throne Speech should Mr. MacEachern also played create a perception, these Liber- clear it’s going to be an ambi- The last Throne Speech was demonstrate that the government down the ongoing speculation als said, that their government is tious, responsible plan for helping delivered after October’s federal has been in active conversations about the possibility of a fall elec- leaving the political centre open Canadians right now and building election, before the pandemic hit and is listening to the opposition tion. He said the governing party for other parties. a stronger future for us all into Canada and the rest of the world parties,” said Mr. MacEachern, se- does not want an election, but at The Liberals who spoke with the coming years,” Mr. Trudeau the same time would not want The Hill Times said the govern- told reporters on Wednesday. to be seen to have been “pushed ment should have a credible “The values and principles around” by the opposition parties. claim to both the political left that underpin it should be obvi- “So they’ve got to find that and centre; if it doesn’t, the party ous to everyone because they are sweet spot where they are not could lose seats and perhaps even the things this government has only listening to the opposi- governing status to the Conserva- remained focused on from the tion in trying to make a minor- tives in the next election. beginning.” ity Parliament work, but being After the Throne Speech, MPs At the end of last year, the perceived to do that as well,” will debate, move amendments federal deficit was around said Mr. MacEachern. “And the to, and ultimately vote on a reply $28-billion, but because of the Speech from the Throne is a great to the speech. If the government unprecedented spending this exercise to feel that you are lis- fails to secure majority support year by the government to tackle tening to both the opposition and for that reply—in essence, for its the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadians.” Throne Speech—an election will deficit is expected to grow close Veteran Liberal MP Wayne be triggered. to $400-billion. The federal debt Easter (Malpeque, P.E.I.), said In the 338-member House, the will soon exceed $1-trillion. The that he does not think there’ll be Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) govern- Trudeau government has not an election in the fall. He said ment would need the support of tabled its budget this year, and Ipsos Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker says that based on the recent polling his constituents don’t want an 170 MPs to avoid an election. The it’s not known how much will the numbers, now is not the right time for the Liberals to trigger an election. The election; rather, they want all the Liberals have 154 seats in the new measures, included those in Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade government’s focus to be on the House, the Conservatives 121, the the Throne Speech, will cost. recovery phase of the pandemic. Bloc Québécois 32, NDP 24, the Until late June, all national “We’re in a pandemic. This is Green Party three, and there are public opinion polls suggested hard, altering the political and nior vice-president of government time to focus and concentrate on two Independent MPs. The Liber- that if an election were to be held policy landscape of the country. relations at Proof Strategies and a the recovery coming ahead of this als need 16 votes from outside of then, the Liberals would have Mr. Trudeau has denied he wants former Hill staffer. pandemic, and we’re not out of their caucus to win the confidence won a majority government. an election. “To what scale each of the it,” said Mr. Easter. “I mean, we’re vote, so they will need to secure Opinion polls broadly showed Pundits have been speculat- parties is represented will also be part way through. So it’s time now the support of at least one other that Canadians were satisfied ing about the possibility of a fall reflective of the potential support to focus on recovery. And let’s get party in the House to survive. with the government’s handling federal election. The economy is that party might give the Liberals. there. Let’s get our minds on that.” The average age of a minority of the pandemic. But since the expected to get worse in the com- I think it’s in the government’s [email protected] government in Canada is only WE Charity controversy started ing months because of COVID-19, best interest that you can point to The Hill Times Our Kids. Canada's Future. It’s time to put Canada's kids first. We call on the to urgently establish an independent Federal Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada.

Many Canadians believe our country is one of the best places in the world to raise a child. However, UNICEF Report Card 16 reports that the health and wellbeing of Canada's children ranks 30th of 38 wealthy countries. According to Children First Canada’s latest Raising Canada report, fully one third of kids in Canada do not enjoy a safe and healthy childhood.

With strong economic, environmental, and social conditions for growing up, there are no excuses for the poor outcomes our children experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has widened existing inequalities and will affect the health and wellbeing of our children for a generation. We must do better.

92% of Canadians believe children should be a priority as governments develop plans and policies related to COVID-19 recovery, and beyond. (Children’s Healthcare Canada Abacus Polling, August 2020) Canada spends 30% less on policies focused on children and families than most rich countries. (UNICEF Report Card 16, 2020) The pandemic has heightened concerns about children’s healthy development, with many of the top threats to childhood increasing, including mental illness, food insecurity, child abuse, physical inactivity and poverty. (Children First Canada, Raising Canada Report, Sept 2020) 70% of Canadians expect the pandemic to have long-term effects on children. (Children’s Healthcare Canada Abacus Polling, August 2020) 70% of mental health disorders and addictions begin in childhood. (CCSA, 2019) 20% of children and youth suffer from mental health disorders. (UNICEF Report Card 16, 2020). Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24 and has now become the leading cause of death among children 10 to 14. (Children First Canada, Raising Canada Report, Sept 2020) 1 in 5 Canadian children live in poverty. (UNICEF Report Card 16, 2020) 73% of Canadians support the creation of a Federal Commission for Children and Youth. (Children’s Healthcare Canada Abacus Polling, 2020)

The statistics are in. The time for a Federal Commissioner for Children and Youth is now. Join us on social media to help build awareness & support for a Federal Commissioner for Children and Youth in Canada!

#WeCANforKids | #RaisingCanada | #WorldsApart Visit bit.ly/canadasfuture for more information. 8 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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

Editorial Letter to the Editor Feds need to strengthen Throne Speech security and intelligence capacity in post COVID-19 world represents a critical

el Cappe raised a lot of very good to formalize executive federalism can Mpoints in his recent piece in the Centre lead to improvements in decision making. opportunity to tackle for International Governance Innovation We have such institutional arrangements and in a follow-up interview with The Hill in Environment and Climate Change Times in last Monday’s issue. The former Canada and elsewhere, and could adopt clerk of the Privy Council Office and the challenges defining an increasingly formalistic arrangement Canada’s former top bureaucrat said “dur- for first ministers and other ministers,” he ing a crisis, success in governance requires wrote. strong institutions, robust decision-making The Privy Council Office, he said, our generation processes and the right people in the right should have a security-based capacity on jobs.” Specifically, without an “institutional- health issues. Moreover, he said Parlia- ized” cabinet emergency group constantly ment should adapt and innovate in order n a few short months, COVID has pro- and other shocks that are growing in in place, the capacity for cabinet ministers to function remotely in times of crises Ivided a snapshot of the types of disrup- frequency and insensity. to tackle pandemics and other emergencies and the Open and Accountable Govern- tions to social and economic systems that The Canadian Coalition on Climate is “woefully lacking,” he told The Hill Times. ment, or the old Guide for Ministers, experts warn are coming if global climate Change and Development has document- Mr. Cappe said although the prime minis- should be updated to include ministerial action is not urgently scaled up. It has ed several key areas in which Canada’s ter’s move to create a cabinet committee on responsibility during crises. As well, the also demonstrated how quickly political future contribution to climate finance COVID-19 on March 4—a week before the relationship between the public service will and vast resources can be mobilized can be optimized toward that end. This World Health Organization declared the and the political decision-makers must be to respond to an imminent threat. includes meeting Canada’s fair share COVID-19 virus a global pandemic—was established in order to function “smoothly Herein lies a historic opportunity: of developed countries’ commitment to an important and valuable step, such a in a crisis.” resilience to pandemics and resilience mobilize USD$100-billion per year in in- cabinet committee should be put in place This is sage advice to govern better in to climate change can go hand-in-hand, ternational climate finance by 2020, mak- permanently to deal with future pandemics times of crises. The federal government promote reconciliation, cooperation and ing adaptation the focus of its support to and emergencies. He’s right. should definitely revisit all its security and partnership, and bring justice, social and vulnerable countries and communities, “In less than two decades, we have intelligence capacities in the wake of the economic benefits. and addressing the barriers that prevent experienced SARS, Middle East respira- COVID-19 pandemic—as well as its pre- As organizations working with people local women’s organizations from access- tory syndrome, Ebola and H1N1. Being paredness at the parliamentary and min- on the front lines of the climate crisis, we ing these funds. prepared for the next natural disaster, ter- isterial levels, especially in a world where write to encourage Prime Minister Justin Making sure Canada’s climate finance rorist act or health crisis is the objective. threats to public health are on the rise. Trudeau to use the Throne Speech on is consistent with the Feminist Interna- The committee would ensure the planning From increasing the PCO’s security- Sept. 23 to signal his government’s com- tional Assistance Policy and respectful function gets done during quieter times based capacity on health issues, to institut- mitment to a bold, five-year international of Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty can and the emergency response is robust dur- ing a “comprehensive review of capacity climate finance package that will increase be part of the government’s COVID-19 ing crises,” Mr. Cappe wrote. and performance in the four phases of this adaptation support for those most vulner- recovery legacy, while also helping to Mr. Cappe also said the Public Health pandemic” according to Mr. Cappe, there able and put resources in the hands of spur climate ambition and restore trust Agency of Canada should develop a for- is still much to be done to improve the women and girls best positioned to lead a in the international climate regime ahead eign intelligence capacity, and the federal- government’s ability to keep its citizens green, feminist, and just recovery. of COP26. There is great expectation that provincial-territorial relationships should safe in this new landscape. Climate change preys on those least G20 countries like Canada will present be institutionalized in Canada. “A move The Hill Times able to recover—especially women, girls green recovery plans that include much and other marginalized groups, who have more ambitious nationally determined the fewest resources to help them cope in contributions (NDC) alongside the in- times of crisis. Climate change threatens creasing quality and quantity of climate to push an additional 100 million people finance. into extreme poverty by 2030, force up to The prime minister and his cabinet 250 million people from their homes by have recognized that COVID-19 must not 2050, and expose three billion people to be allowed to dampen climate ambition Saharan heat levels by 2070. Today, these and that this crisis calls for bold and numbers are being compounded by the transformative action. The Throne Speech social and economic fallout of COVID-19. represents a critical opportunity to show As the prime minister’s former special Canadians and our international partners envoy on humanitarian and refugee is- that Canada is ready to tackle the chal- sues recently highlighted, we won’t truly lenges defining our generation. We stand recover unless Canada and other wealthy ready to work with the government to countries help developing countries get implement these priorities. back on track. Canada’s international Catherine Abreu, executive director, climate finance is a critical part of the Climate Action Network Canada solution. Barbara Grantha, president and CEO, In the prime minister’s first major CARE Canada foreign policy announcement in 2015, he Nicolas Moyer, president and CEO— committed $2.65-billion in international Canadian Council for International climate finance. This year, with Canada’s Co-operation commitment to international climate fi- Stephen Cornish, chief executive nance up for renewal, Mr. Trudeau has the officer, David Suzuki Foundation opportunity to build on that legacy and Jean Lowry, president of the Canadian announce a truly feminist international Association of International climate finance package that will build re- Development Professionals (CAIDP) silience to climate change, the pandemic The Hill Times

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U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly lied about the threat that COVID-19 poses to the public. Photograph by Andrea Hanks, courtesy of the White House

hands with our elbows. All of that And if that wasn’t enough to fighting the virus; in fact, only even encouraged life-threatening The U.S. president because the prime minister saw calm jangled nerves state-side, Brazil has possibly shown greater behaviour, Trump claimed he this virus for what it really is—a Dr. Trump even floated a few negligence and incompetence in didn’t alert Americans to the has encouraged deadly plague that has the power cures. They ranged from light failing to protect its citizens. lethal risk they faced because he Americans to play to kill thousands of people, and therapy, to mainlining a little And now this. In an exercise didn’t want to create “panic.” The jeopardize the very foundations bleach to knock out that pesky of ego-liberation gone horribly old vice into virtue gambit. Russian roulette of our society. virus in a New York minute. The wrong, President Trump admitted It was the biggest whopper of But for all Canada’s efforts to wonder is he didn’t put out a to legendary journalist Bob Wood- all. with their lives, and contain COVID-19, there is the Trump anti-virus product himself, ward that far from being harm- The way to avoid panic in real threat posed by hundreds of like Trump Steaks and Trump less or a hoax, COVID-19 was a the population when faced with mocked opponents millions of Americans just across Wine. very deadly disease. Worse, the something Trump now likes to the border. That’s because their If bleach injection didn’t president knew that from the very call “the plague” is to tell the truth who have taken the president told them that the pan- work, you could just take a little beginning. Trump made that state- about the threat, and then detail virus seriously. demic was a hoax, masks were anti-malaria drug, hydroxichlo- ment on tape for Woodward’s new what the government intends to for wusses, and the whole thing roquine, the president’s personal book, Rage. Unlike the Access do about it. would disappear by itself. After favourite. Never mind the pessi- Hollywood tape, this time he can’t You create calm with vigorous all, the U.S. only had fifteen cases mists at the World Health Orga- put it down to locker room talk. national policy. You provide ven- back then, right? nization, or the Food and Drug So all the while he was telling tilators for the sick and protec- So far, thousands of Ameri- Administration, who concluded it Americans that COVID-19 was tive gear for front line medical cans have tried to sneak into was no defence at all against the nothing to worry about, Trump staff; you mandate masks, social Canada. Some come by pleasure virus. personally knew it was a deadly distancing, and hand-washing for boat, some use the so-called Now the president who said disease five times more lethal the general population; and quar- “Alaska loophole,” and some just that COVID-19 was nothing to than a normal flu. He also knew antining and sheltering in place show up at the border, where they worry about has begun talking up that in addition to being spread when necessary. And yes, some- have been turned back. an imminent vaccine that will lay by touch, it was also an airborne times you have to shut down the With nearly 200,000 of their the whole thing to rest. pathogen. economy, no matter how much Michael Harris fellow citizens dead from CO- Trump has ordered up a vac- Think about that. Think of all the stock market is your one true Harris VID-19, 40,000 new cases per day, cine like he would a burger and the people who attended beach love. You don’t create calm by and a second phase of the pan- fries from McDonald’s. That’s one parties, barbecues and bars, lying to people about the threat, demic expected this fall, arm-in- vaccine to go, and hold the full and yes, political rallies, with- and when you can’t lie about that ALIFAX—When, I wonder, arm with the seasonal flu, travel third-phase studies. This dish has out masks and without social anymore, say it’s a problem for Hwill Donald Trump write the is a bad idea. What would possess to be served up for an early No- distancing. The whole time their U.S. governors. one book he is qualified to pro- them to leave the “petri-dish” of vember election. And don’t worry president was telling them it was As Angela Merkel said, you duce: The Art of the Lie? America and come to Canada to about that data-driven scientific all okay, he personally knew they can’t fight COVID-19 with lies. American, Canadian, Mexican, shop, sight-see, or unknowingly gobbledygook. Vladimir Putin were playing Russian Roulette If you could, America would be North Korean, Russian, Chinese, spread a deadly disease? Their didn’t bother with one, and now with their health and lives. When pandemic-free. or African—it doesn’t matter what president’s cavalcade of lies, he’s got a vaccine, right? he mocked presidential rival Instead, you have a U.S. presi- your nationality is, Trump’s lying that’s what. Earth to Donald Trump fans: Joe Biden for wearing a mask in dent with his pants on fire, a once rampage impacts your life. When COVID-19 didn’t disap- just look at the serial lies Trump public, he knew that Biden was great democracy on the brink Take Canada and the battle pear like a miracle, as this delu- has told you, and the world. The doing the right thing, and that he, of a ghastly sea change, and the against the pandemic. In this sional president often claimed president said the virus would go Trump, was encouraging people rest of the world wondering if country, there has been, up until it would, he then became Dr. away on its own; it exploded. He to do things that might make Americans will ride to the world’s now at least, a well-managed, Trump. If you got it, it wouldn’t said it only had minor conse- them terribly ill or even kill them. rescue on November 3 by ending science-driven response to really make you sick. Kids were quences; key models are now When the avalanche of denun- the Trump pandemic. COVID-19. There is a sense that basically immune and all schools predicting COVID-19 could claim ciation came Trump’s way for his Like the California wildfires, we’re all in it together, that we are had to open. Americans that did 400,000 victims in the U.S. by the damning admission that he had expect this president to rage until one another’s keeper. succumb to COVID-19 were old time the new president is inaugu- always played down the virus, the very end. So we wear our sweaty little and nearly dead anyway. You rated. and still does, he lied again. Al- Michael Harris is an award- masks, keep our distance, stay know, one foot in the grave, the Trump said America has though he held back information winning journalist and author. away from the office, and shake other on a banana peel. done the best job in the world of vital to the public health, and The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

work continues in other countries; what a Kielburger. The story had a huge impact loss for Canada. on the young Canadian. “It really upset me. The death of WE in In the Kielburgers’ public exit letter, What did the two of us have in common they claimed that in the 25 years of their except our age?” he told The Washington organization’s existence, youth volun- Post in a 1996 interview. teerism went from the bottom to the top of That chance article led Kielburger and Canada is shameful the demographic charts. his brother into lives of doing things for One million students attended the others. WE Day celebrations after the teens had Around the world, young leaders The critics of WE puffed themselves already helped 3,000 charities. are lauded. When Pakistan’s Malala The death of WE in Canada up after Craig and Marc Kielburger an- How does the death of WE help anyone? Yousafzai survived a gunshot wound to nounced the shuttering of their Canadian It certainly doesn’t support the plethora of the head, shot by anti-girl extremists, will kill any momentum operations. young people who have been motivated to she devoted her life to girls and educa- that the opposition parties “Well, at least we have cut off a huge look beyond their own little worlds when it tion. Greta Thunberg became the face for source of income for the Trudeau family,” comes to caring about life. climate action. are seeking to pump up. snarled one on Twitter. Set aside the politics of a scandal that Malala became the world’s youngest Earth to Twitter verse: you are not cut- wasn’t really a scandal. The organization Nobel Peace Prize laureate. But don’t expect them to ting off a Trudeau money source, you are was designed to inspire young people to She spoke at a WE Day in the United killing a program that convinced thou- think beyond themselves. Kingdom six years ago, supporting the stop trying. The program sands of young Canadians of the value of Turning the “me” into the “we” was the values of the organization. volunteerism. whole premise behind the movement that WE plans to continue its work across was killed, the finance And for all those armchair quarterbacks motivated youth in all parts of the country. the pond and in other countries where it minister is gone, and so is who said somebody else could run the A friend of mine witnessed their first has a presence. youth program, there is no other national rally, describing it as “cultish.” Truth be The only country it is leaving is the WE. organization that has a tie-in to education told, the experience of sharing the joy of home where it was founded, Canada. systems in multiple provinces. volunteerism with thousands of others in The death of WE in Canada will kill any Some argued we should have tasked a rally is very un-Canadian. Most of us momentum that the opposition parties are the government with running youth pro- like to hide our light under a bushel, and seeking to pump up. But don’t expect them grams. Others said it was a task for the that holds true in the volunteer sphere as to stop trying. military. well. The program was killed, the finance But in the end, as cabinet decided at the But from the beginning, the Kielburg- minister is gone, and so is WE. time, there is no other national organiza- ers went against the grain. At the age of There is not much more that opponents tion with the heft and depth to run the kind 12, Craig Kielburger actually got a meet- can do to damage this incredible, youth- of massive youth engagement that WE was ing with prime minister Jean Chrétien to motivating organization. contracted to launch. promote a simple message—child poverty The notion that it was a Liberal cash We should reflect on what the death of on the international agenda. cow is a joke. donated Sheila Copps WE says about the current political culture Kielburger was prompted to action $100,00 to the organization. He was hardly Copps’ Corner in Canada. when he read about a Pakistan boy named looking for a freebie trip. What WE-haters succeeded in do- Iqbal Masih who was sold for $4 at age Mistakes were made. Only in Canada, ing was killing an organization that had four to work in a rug factory where he was do we expect perfect. TTAWA—The death of WE in Canada direct involvement with 7,000 schools chained to the loom. Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien- Ois shameful. across the country. The Kielburgers are Masih ran away, became an advocate era cabinet minister and a former deputy The ruthlessCACAdvocacyAd-Infrastructure-bleeds.pdf destruction of a charity 1 9/8/2020 for 8:11:26gone, AM and their organization will only against child exploitation and was mur- prime minister. political purposes accomplishes nothing. function as a foundation while the WE dered at age 12, exactly the same age as The Hill Times

C M MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY. Y

CM Canada’s airports are in distress.

MY

CY Our airports connect Canadians to the world, and the world to Canada. CMY Today, more than ever, travellers expect and deserve a safe, healthy, and K respectful journey. While Canada’s airports are working hard for travellers and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time for the government to help.

One way to support Canada’s airports is to expand national transportation infrastructure programs and support border modernization efforts to help Canada’s airports meet safety and security requirements and adapt to the new realities of COVID-19.

Find out more about the ways to help Canada’s airports as they work for travellers and communities at www.canadasairports.ca/mayday. THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 11 Global Would two terms of Trump mean the end of American democracy? Not necessarily

What Donald Trump Donald Trump is has triggered—and personally a racist, if his remarks and somebody was bound behaviour are any guide, but he is a to trigger it around cynical populist and would be now, because every exploiting white political niche, like fears right now even if he really every evolutionary loved non-white Americans. That niche, is always is why the vicious legacy of the Civil filled—is a final War, which ended reckoning on the slavery but not white privilege, ‘race problem,’ about is finally being dragged out into 150 years after the the open, writes Gwynne Dyer. American Civil War. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Gwynne Dyer Global Affairs

ONDON, U.K.—“To lose one Lparent … may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness,” wrote Oscar Wilde in his play The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. In somewhat the same spirit, British journalist Robert Fisk wrote last week “At some point in the next two months we are going to have to decide whether we ab- solve the American people if they re-elect Donald Trump.” Losing one election to Trump is unlucky; era; or if his dreadful, ambitious Soviet power throughout the Cold ‘race problem,’ about 150 years Americans, who often compete losing two in a row may be saying family transform themselves into War. Most Eastern Europeans see after the American Civil War. for the same jobs and used to something about the national the Trump Caliphate … if the the United States as the instru- At the time of the Civil War (1861- depend on their whiteness as a character. America we felt we could always ment of their liberation from the 65), Black Americans accounted for competitive advantage. Fisk has been the Middle East ultimately rely on—once they’ve Soviet Union, even though it did around 12 per cent of the total popu- Trump is personally a rac- correspondent of various Brit- straightened out their little Trump not in the end involve a hot war. lation, and four-fifths of them were ist, if his remarks and behaviour ish newspapers since 1976, so he misadventure—turns into the na- So there is still a deep well of slaves. Whites accounted for almost are any guide, but he is a cynical was not on familiar ground when tion we can never trust?” respect and trust for the United all the rest; only a quarter-million populist and would be exploiting he wrote that about the United I grew up in Canada, and States in Europe. Fisk is probably were Native Americans. white fears right now even if he States in The Independent on Canadians, like Mexicans, while right that a second Trump election African-Americans still ac- really loved non-white Americans. Sept. 4. On the other hand, he was fond enough of individual Ameri- victory would finally poison that count for the same 12 per cent That is why the vicious legacy of expressing a mostly unspoken, cans, are by nature mistrustful of well, which would be a pity. share of the population today, and the Civil War, which ended slavery but widespread attitude among the American state—“like sleep- Another four years would also many of them are still victims of but not white privilege, is finally all Europeans except the extreme ing with an elephant,” as Pierre see him complete the destruction the same white fear, exclusion being dragged out into the open. right. Let me quote some more: Elliott Trudeau put it. If it just of the existing international order and official violence that their an- Having been so exposed, it will “Like all snobs, we’ve taken rolls over or wakes up cranky, (without giving a single thought to a cestors experienced (mainly be- probably finally be extinguished— the view that Trump did not really you can get badly hurt. replacement). Trump is, as Michael cause they were slaves) 150 years but not necessarily in time to represent American values—any Europeans have a different Moore noted in 2016, “a wretched, ago. But since U.S. immigration thwart Trump’s re-election. This is more than the Arab dictators perspective. ignorant, dangerous part-time law changed in 1965, allowing not the end of the United States, reflect the views of their people. Bob Fisk grew up in the United clown and full-time sociopath.” people from the entire world to nor the advent of a new Hitler ei- We’ve hoped and prayed and Kingdom, which like France re- But would two terms of Trump immigrate, the ‘non-Hispanic ther. It is a necessary evolution of fooled ourselves into believing this members (most of the time) that it mean the end of American de- white share’ of the population has American history, for which some was only a temporary autocracy, would have lost both world wars mocracy? Not necessarily. Not dropped to only 60 per cent. people living elsewhere may also a deviation, an old and reliable without American help. Even if even likely. What Trump has trig- That share will to drop to pay a substantial price. friend suffering from a serious but the United States was years late gered—and somebody was bound 50 per cent by 2044, according Gwynne Dyer’s new book is ultimately curable mental disease. to both world wars, it showed up to trigger it around now, because to forecasts based on current ‘Growing Pains: The Future of De- “Yet … I wonder how we are both times in time to save the day. every political niche, like every birth rates and immigration mocracy (and Work)’. This column going to react to Americans if the And American troops stayed in evolutionary niche, is always trends. This has triggered a huge was released on Sept. 8. Trump years become the Trump Western Europe to protect it from filled—is a final reckoning on the panic among working-class white The Hill Times

THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 13 Opinion

Canadian taxpayers invest billions of dollars to train tech talent, fund university-based scientific research and provide grants and tax incentives for early stage tech companies. But if much of this effort ends up simply expanding jobs, intellectual property and, consequently, tax revenues in other countries, what’s the benefit for Canada, writes David Crane.Image courtesy of Pexels.com Canada needs better ways to transform early stage companies into future global champions

of domestic jobs. Instead, many meet health, education, and other It quotes Stephen Hurwitz of multinational, such as Shopify, While excellent at of them are sold, while still needs. the Boston-based law firm Cho- CAE, OpenText, Kinaxis or Con- small, to foreign multination- Another challenge that Is- ate, Hill & Stewart, as stating that stellation Software? Examples of starting really smart als who acquire the intellectual rael—and Canada—face comes American venture capital firms success can encourage others. new companies, property and use it to strengthen from the growing number of love doing deals in Canada. “What “Public-private partnerships operations and create jobs else- innovation centres that foreign they see is a combination of fabu- can and should lead efforts Israel, like Canada, where. multinationals are establishing. lous technology, high-quality and to provide financial security Israel, as Daniely points out, I call these R&D branch plants, lower-priced talent, less competi- and support to enable budding has much less success has more start-ups per capita which tap the local talent pool tion for deals, and better [lower?] entrepreneurs to take big risks than any other country, the and the publicly funded research pricing,” he says. and stick with them,” Daniely in turning these highest number of engineers per base of local universities to One of the big challenges in argues, adding “additional mea- capita (engineers typically turn develop intellectual property for Israel, says Daniely, is the lack sures could include models for into locally owned inventions into innovations), and foreign corporations. These mul- of multi-billion-dollar funds that encouraging young companies multinationals with has the world’s second-largest tinationals, as Daniely points out, can provide the patient capital to collaborate more closely with research and development spend- can offer higher pay and benefits to grow a company into a large each other and even merge to the potential to ing rate. than smaller local companies and corporation with thousands of create more stable and scalable “Yet, often overlooked, given so are well-positioned to win the employees. Israeli pension funds, businesses.” create thousands of this glowing data, is a less fortu- battle for local talent. for example, “are more likely While some may object to nate fact,” Daniely writes. “While In Canada’s case, companies to invest in overseas real estate government involvement, the domestic jobs. we have excelled at launching like Alphabet/Google, Facebook, markets than they are to invest venture capital industry in Israel game-changing start-ups and life- Microsoft, Uber and others in a growth-stage Israeli com- was launched by government and, changing technologies, we have are—in addition to establish- pany.” Much the same could be in Canada, federal and provincial struggled to produce well-known ing R&D branch plants—hiring said of Canadian pension funds. governments have accounted for multinational corporations.” Can away our top professors and im- Both countries need to do a much much of the growth in venture Israel—and Canada—move be- planting themselves in our top better job in growing their best capital. Public-private partner- yond early stage innovation? research universities. This puts tech companies into international ships could generate more funds Part of Israel’s problem is them in a strong position to champions. to provide long-term and patient that it has developed an “exit learn of the best new research- Corporate venture funds, growth capital. culture,” Daniely argues, with ers and early stage start-ups. known as “strategic investors,” Canadian taxpayers invest both early stage investors and With their deep pockets they are playing a major role in billions of dollars to train tech start-up founders seeking to cash are also buying up promising helping to fund Israeli start- talent, fund university-based David Crane out early rather than building tech companies. ups, and foreign multinationals scientific research and provide Canada & the 21st Century world-scale companies. This Yet selling out to foreign mul- are doing something similar in grants and tax incentives for makes early investors and start- tinationals seems to be encour- Canada. “While it is exciting and early stage tech companies. But up founders wealthy, but doesn’t aged by one of Canada’s leading theoretically beneficial for young if much of this effort ends up ORONTO—Writing in the do much for the rest of society. incubator/accelerator centers for start-ups to evolve with strate- simply expanding jobs, intellec- TGlobal Innovation Index 2020 Moreover, there is a downside high-tech companies, MaRS, in gic support, it also limits their tual property and, consequently, report, Yaron Daniely of Israel’s to this approach. “In the long- Toronto. In its start-up toolkit, independence and the likelihood tax revenues in other countries, aMoon Venture Fund, worries run, a private sector consisting it extols the benefits of linking of growing to become strong what’s the benefit for Canada? that his country—highlighted in entirely of small technologically up with U.S. venture funds since market players before they are If Canadians are to get a better the best-selling book, Start-Up advanced companies chasing these are a quick pathway to absorbed by the strategic inves- return on their investment, then Nation—may be suffering from an exit strategy” is damaging eventual sale. In fact, it boasts, of tor—which often happens too instead of simply providing seed the same problem that I see in because “it exports the coun- 183 Canadian tech start-ups sold soon and at a significant valua- corn for other countries, we need Canada. try’s most valuable know-how over a five-year period, nearly 70 tion discount.” to find better ways to transform While excellent at starting and hinders the development of per cent were acquitted by U.S. So what to do? How do we more of our early stage compa- really smart new companies, Is- large local companies.” This, in corporations, including six by create an environment where nies into future global champi- rael, like Canada, has much less effect, suppresses the number of Google and three by Twitter. “U.S. entrepreneurs are less inclined to ons. success in turning these into lo- jobs available within Israel—or companies are driving the major- sell their start-ups and more ener- David Crane can be reached at cally owned multinationals with Canada—and reduces the long- ity of Canadian company exits,” gized by the possibility of build- [email protected]. the potential to create thousands term tax payments needed to the MaRS toolkit notes. ing a successful Canadian tech The Hill Times 14 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Military justice system in chaos

Defence A parliamentary solution Minister , is needed to remedy the pictured Jan. 26, 2020, current chaos in our at a press military justice system. conference in the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. Parliament should reform the National Defence Act, write Michel Drapeau and Joshua Juneau. The Hill Times photograph by Michel Drapeau & Joshua Juneau Andrew Meade Opinion

TTAWA—In a shocking decision last Omonth, R. v. Crépeau, the Deputy Chief Military Judge, Lt.-Col. Louis-Vincent d’Auteuil, declared that his court is not independent nor is it impartial; in their current form, military courts are uncon- stitutional. What this means is that, going forward, all criminal and disciplinary trials before courts martial will likely be stayed, including upcoming trials for sexual as- sault or drug trafficking of other serious offences. This is as remarkable as it is unprec- edented. But it’s not just Judge d’Auteuil that questions the independence of his court. Earlier this year Military Judge Mar- tin Pelletier in R v. Pett; and Military Judge Sandra Sukstorf in R v. D’Amico foreshad- owed this same result. Judge d’Auteuil’s decision is likely the second last chapter in a not-so-private spat between the military courts and the chief of defence staff. The final chapter will see the power struggle between the head of the military judiciary and the to hear the cases in the unit lines of an head of the Armed Forces establishment Marking time accused. For general courts martial, a five- Parliamentary solution required As the current military court structure One thing is certain. Structural reform end, but it is possible that neither will like member military panel (quasi-jury) must has now been declared unconstitutional, is urgently needed, and Judge d’Auteuil’s the outcome. be selected broadly, and panel members Maj. Léveillé states that he will seek a are commonly flown across the country to decision has given the perfect opportunity stay of proceedings in “99 per cent” of sit for days as a juror, all at public expense. for Parliament to act by amending the Duality of accountability his defence files going forward. This is In December 2018, the House Public National Defence Act to solve this em- In October 2019, in the wake of the perhaps the largest issue at hand. Our Accounts Committee found that the Ca- barrassing void in the administration of court martial against the former chief military courts are inefficient at the best of nadian Armed Forces did not administer military justice. Parliament could consider military judge Mario Dutil, the Chief of times, and now they have been enduringly the military justice system efficiently, as a solution whereby, upon appointment as Defence Staff, Jonathan Vance, issued an crippled. evidenced by excessive delays throughout a military judge, officers would retire their order. Gen. Vance made all military judges There is worse for the military justice the process. Therefore, from a financial rank and assume the role of ‘judge’ dis- subject to disciplinary authority of the system. Additional delay in the administra- perspective alone, there is a good case for tancing themselves from both the military vice chief of defence staff. Sec. 60 of the tion and superintendence of the military civilianization. chain of command and the code of service National Defence Act clearly stipulates justice system could also cause many seri- discipline while remaining subject to the that all officers of the Regular Force are ous criminal and disciplinary matters to be existing Military Judges Inquiry Commit- subject to the code of service discipline. dismissed due to the timelines established Unconstitutional courts tee appointed by the chief justice of the The act also states that persons who are by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Ultimately, Military Judge d’Auteuil de- Court Martial Appeal Court. subject to the code fall under the penal Jordan. This could be a real coup de grâce clared his court unconstitutional because Alternatively, following the lead of our military justice. What is remarkable here to the reputation management of the mili- he lacked independence, as a military of- European allies, courts martial could be is that it took all this time before the tary justice system. ficer, to hear the matter. We agree with him. abolished, and a new military division added military justice system actually realized Judges are specialists, and, as such, to the Federal Court to expand its jurisdic- this conflicting duality of accountability, should not be subject to the military chain tion. In our view, this would be the best solu- which obviously flies in the face of the Prior criticism of command or hold rank. It is cavalier tion, particularly given that the Federal Court In a spring 2018 report, the auditor gen- constitutional requirement that all judges to think that a military judge (or lawyer, has standing courtrooms countrywide, with eral openly criticized the military judiciary be independent of the executive—never or doctor, or padre) could deliver bind- a qualified compliment of bilingual judges. as being inefficient, marred with delays the two shall meet. ing orders or hold the requisite skill set to Creating a ‘military division’ of the Federal and plagued with “systemic weaknesses.” In a recent interview with La Presse, command a brigade of soldiers onto the Court would be consistent with the court’s Presently, there are four full-time Defence Counsel Maj. Eric Léveillé stated battlefield into harm’s way; yet, at present, original mandate, which is to ensure the military judges each earning in excess of that the maintenance of discipline and the military’s top padre, lawyer, and doctor better administration of the laws of Canada, $200,000 per year. This is expensive con- order of military judges by the chain of are all major-generals—the top judge is a such as the prosecution of offences under the sidering that, in 2019, the military judiciary command was problematic. He opined colonel. National Defence Act. only heard from 44 defendants at the trial that military judges are not indepen- From an independence perspective, This current paralysis of the military level. Of these trials, about half involved dent because they remain subject to the judges should not hold military rank and justice system is too important a matter to guilty pleas, and the other half largely con- military hierarchy and subject to a code should not be subject to the orders and be left to the generals. It is time for Parlia- cerned minor disciplinary offences—not of service discipline. We have previously directives of the military’s chain of com- ment to intervene. Our soldiers, sailors, exactly a heavy case load. written that a “judge in military uniform mand. If this is so, there is also no need for and aviators deserve no less. In addition to judges’ salaries, there are is a paradox” and continue to hold this a parallel system of military justice since Michel Drapeau and Joshua Juneau are the salaries of staff, prosecution lawyers, belief. We have also proposed a cure: the civilian judiciary can aptly respond to administrative lawyers whose practice and defence lawyers who all travel on loca- judges presiding at court martials should the small number of courts martial cur- focuses on military and veterans issues. tion dispersed across Canada and abroad be civilian jurists. rently taking place in Canada. The Hill Times Policy Briefing The Hill Times | September 14, 2020 Biotechnology

How the pandemic has driven us to up our game in research and teaching p. 21

Liberal government Challenge trials face too must end COVID-19 many ethical and logistical vaccine secrecy hurdles, experts say p. 16 p. 21

Biotech industry leading the We need better foresight charge to find vaccines and for the next normal treatments for COVID-19 p. 20 p. 17 Human challenge Onto the next studies pandemic to speed development p. 18 of COVID-19 Rapid COVID-19 saliva tests are vaccine are the swatter that could squash the unethical pandemic: will Canada deploy them? p. 19 p. 20 16 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Biotech Policy Briefing

An attenuated strain is one wouldn’t give results sooner than that has been modified in some a regular clinical trial. Challenge trials face way to make it less harmful. Mr. Powlowski also said wait- There are several methods used ing for an attenuated strain is not to attenuate a pathogen. wise, but for different reasons. The Sabin poliovirus vaccine, “We could contemplate it, but still in use today, is a live polio given the length of time it takes too many ethical and strain that was run through gen- to develop and given the number erations of laboratory animals to of deaths that occur every day make it a much more mild form as a result of COVID, I think it’s of polio. An attenuated strain unethical to wait that length of can also be from a different time,” he said. logistical hurdles to go pathogen that is similar enough Mr. Powlowski said one of the to confer immunity, such as us- key things informing his position ing cowpox to confer immunity that challenge trials are ethical to smallpox. is the relatively low risk posed to Lastly, the disease could be young people, who would be the forward, experts say genetically modified to make it subjects of the proposed chal- susceptible to currently available lenge trial. treatment options. “The whole core central con- Four Liberal MPs being monitored, into the world results” by the end of October, a “Malaria strains that are cept as to why this makes sense is to go about daily life. Large challenge study should be initi- currently used to infect healthy you would initially only do it with and health experts numbers of people are needed ated. volunteers have been genetically people aged 18 to 25. In this age because there is no guarantee “If the phase three trials aren’t modified so that they are killed group, COVID is no worse than recently penned an any single individual will come coming to an answer in the next by a single drug treatment,” Prof. common influenza,” he said. into contact with the disease few months, I think it’s unethical Weijer said. “It’s not really dangerous in op-ed arguing that in regular life. The uncertainty not to do them because we are ac- Without an attenuated strain that age group. Certainly people of exposure also necessitates a tively contributing to perpetuating of some kind, “there’s too much say it’s unethical. If it’s unethical challenge trials are phase three trial being conducted the pandemic,” he said, adding that risk, even in a healthy young to allow people to assume that worth the risk. in a place where there are a planning should begin before that person” to begin a challenge trial, risk, wouldn’t it be unethical to high number of daily new cases. time to ensure a challenge trial he said. allow police to go into a situation Predicting when and where high could actually get started, regard- “With most infection challenge where they could be harmed,” he BY AIDAN CHAMANDY case loads may arise is incredibly less of which country it starts in. studies you’re dealing with a said. difficult, Mr. Powlowski argued, “If no one else is stepping up disease that won’t kill you or with Françoise Baylis, research he race to develop the CO- and further complicates a phase to the plate, why not Canada,” he a disease where we already have professor at Dalhousie University TVID-19 vaccine, or a series of three trial. asked. some kind of therapeutics, which and bioethical philosopher, said vaccines, is well underway and at this reasoning is flawed because the time of writing, three clini- Canada's it fails to take into account how cal trials are in phase three, with Chief Public the risk involved with research dozens more in phases one and Health Officer participation differs from the risk two and in the pre-clinical stage. Theresa Tam, involved in a job, and the com- One Russian vaccine was even pictured June pensation an individual receives approved before phase three of 15, 2020, for participating in research or testing. arriving at the for simply doing their job. Developing a vaccine takes West Block to “It takes us back to a conver- an average of more than 10 years hold a press sation that people tried to have from pre-clinical development conference a long time ago about whether to distribution, according to a and to update we should think about research 2013 study conducted by Dutch Canadians participation as a job. So then you scientists Ester S. Pronker, Tamar on the get all the benefits you get with C. Weenen, Harry Commandeur, response to employment, including health Eric Claassen, and Albertus Os- the ongoing insurance, but perhaps including terhaus. COVID-19 life insurance policies for your The normal clinical trial pandemic. Dr. loved ones. I think that those timelines are too long in the face Tam has said people have chosen a career of the COVID-19 pandemic, said that vaccines path. That career path provides Liberal MP and former ER doc- won't be a them with many, many kinds of tor (Thunder silver bullet benefits, not just remuneration,” Bay-Rainy River, Ont.), which is in fighting she said. why he signed on to a Toronto COVID-19. “A firefighter who consents to Star op-ed arguing that challenge The Hill Times that job is motivated by all kinds trials should be looked at as a photograph by of things. But I think that’s very legitimate alternative. Andrew Meade different from a person who is “I think getting a vaccine out often of lower socioeconomic there sooner has to be over- status, perhaps not seeing a way whelmingly the most important to get access to a vaccine that issue of the day,” Mr. Powlowski they see as a potential benefit, said in a Sept. 9 phone interview and seeing that this might be with The Hill Times. their only route to that. What I Mr. Powlowski was one of four Challenge trials are smaller Despite the potential benefits we don’t have” for COVID-19, said want to underline here is that Liberal MPs to sign the op-ed. and don’t face the same issues of discovering a vaccine earlier Jonathan Kimmelman, a profes- there is a risk of coercion and a The others were former doctor around exposure uncertainty than initially thought, bioethicists sor of biomedical ethics at McGill risk of exploitation and I do not and York Region public health because they normally occur in a say challenge trials face too many University. believe those two risks apply with official (Markham- more controlled environment. Mr. ethical and logistical hurdles “It would be unprecedented the job scenarios that we’ve been Stouffville, Ont.), Nathaniel Ers- Powlowski and the co-authors said to view them as a viable path to do a challenge study with a discussing,” she said. kine-Smith (Beaches-East York, they are advocating for a highly forward. virus for which we can’t give “The risk of coercion is, ‘I’ve Ont.), and (Hamilton controlled trial where participants “We’re going to have a vac- rescue medications or have fig- offered you so much money East-Stoney Creek, Ont.). Sev- would be housed in containment cine in hand before any chal- ured out how to limit infection,” relative to what you can do in the eral doctors and professors also centres to monitor their progress. lenge study gets up and running,” he said. world to make that same amount signed the letter. Mr. Powlowski acknowledged said Charles Weijer, a Western The U.S. National Institute for of money,’ that it’s nearly impos- Challenge trials are widely challenge trials have serious risks University professor and Canada Allergies and Infections Diseases sible for you to say no. Alterna- seen as a way to speed up the vac- but proposed several measures, Research Chair in bioethics. announced in August that it’s tively, the risk of exploitation is, cine development process, but at such using containment centres and In order to get a challenge working on developing an attenu- ‘I haven’t offered you enough a certain cost. limiting participation to those aged study up and running, Prof. ated strain for use in challenge money for the risk that I’m asking In a challenge trial, partici- between 18-25 where symptoms are Weijer said, an attenuated COVID trials. There are currently no you to take,’ which is the risk of pants are given a potential vac- least severe, to address these con- strain would need to be developed institutions in Canada working on death,” she said. cine that has passed phase one cerns. While not eliminating risk, because it “would be unethical to an attenuated strain, according to “I don’t believe that the situa- and phase two safety trials. They which is impossible, Mr. Powlowski use a wild-type COVID strain to CBC’s Vaccine Tracker. tion applies for the firefighter. If are then intentionally exposed to said he believes the benefits to speed vaccine development. … An attenuated strain would they think that money is not right, the virus to see if they get sick. society from a vaccine outweigh the The front end of challenge studies take time to develop. For those they can go and do another kind Phase three trials are differ- risks to the individual voluntarily are how do you make a strain of critical of challenge studies, the of job. They’re not at risk in the ent. In these, a large number of participating in the study. the disease that is more suscep- time and effort it would take to de- same kind of way,” she said. participants are given a potential He said that if phase three tible to treatment so people don’t velop an attenuated strain would [email protected] vaccine and released, while still trials aren’t producing “positive die.” essentially be wasted because it The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 17 Policy BriefingBiotech

International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-In- Biotech industry leading the charge to terVac) to accelerate the development of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate and to scale up their bio-manufacturing capac- ity. find vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 These measures will help ensure Can- ada has the capacity to produce doses of cant impacts on workers and their families, clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine vaccine for our front line health workers, The Canadian biotech and have created barriers to growth at candidate. Our government is also sup- long-term care workers, and those at risk a time when innovation and research is porting Dartmouth-based IMV Inc. with of becoming seriously ill if they contracted sector should rest assured critical. In the face of these unprecedented more than $3-million to support phase one COVID-19. challenges, our government has worked clinical trials and the rapid scale up of In the months ahead, our government that our government not tirelessly to protect the health and safety their manufacturing processes. Over the will continue to support Canada’s biotech only recognizes the critical of Canadians and to support Canadian coming weeks, we expect to make further industry. Its position as a driver of growth businesses. announcements regarding other promis- and innovation make the sector important role it plays in our economy, As we begin to look towards our eco- ing Canadian technologies. now and into the future. As our economy nomic recovery, there are clear opportuni- Our government is deploying sig- gradually re-starts, it will be critical to but that we will continue ties for innovative industries such as bio- nificant support for this area through maintain and foster strong public-private tech to grow and prosper here in Canada. the Strategic Innovation Fund, which partnerships to address the global chal- to look for opportunities to Countries are working together to find has earmarked $600-million to support lenges we face and to grow Canadian bio- help further develop this vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine and therapy clinical manufacturing capacity. and the biotech industry is leading the trials and to support bio-manufacturing Even while we remain focused on vital domestic industry. charge. opportunities. dealing with the impacts of COVID-19, That is why our government is work- We know that scaling up Canada’s bio- our Government will continue to plan ing across several fronts to position the manufacturing capacity is critical to ensur- for the future growth of this important Canadian biotech industry for success in ing that Canadians have a secure supply of sector. This fall there will be a relaunch the short- and long-term. eventual COVID-19 vaccines or treatments. of the Health and Biosciences Economic Our first priority continues to be secur- That is why we are making significant Strategy Table, which will provide expert ing access to safe and effective vaccines investments to ensure we are able to do advice to help ensure that our economic and treatments. This includes support- just that. recovery both helps keep Canadians safe ing the most promising made-in-Canada Just two weeks ago, Prime Minister while growing an inclusive and innovative candidates, and securing agreements to Justin Trudeau and Innovation Minister economy. access the most promising international announced an investment The Canadian biotech sector should candidates. For example, our government of $126-million for a new bio-manufac- rest assured that our government not only announced support of up to $175.6-million turing facility at the National Research recognizes the critical role it plays in our Liberal MP for -based AbCellera Biolog- Council’s Human Health Therapeutics economy, but that we will continue to look ics to accelerate the development of their Research Centre in Montreal. This new for opportunities to help further develop Opinion antibody-based drug candidates and to facility will increase vaccine-manufac- this vital domestic industry. expand their bio-manufacturing capacity turing capacity at the National Research Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi, who represents anada’s economy, including Canadian here in Canada. Similarly, our govern- Council to up to two million doses per Willowdale, Ont., is parliamentary secre- Cbiotech, has been hit hard by the CO- ment announced an investment of up month by mid-2021. This complements tary to the minister of innovation, science VID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to employ- to $56-million to support Ottawa-based our investments in Saskatoon’s Vaccine and industry. ment and supply chains have had signifi- Variation Biotechnologies Inc. for their and Infectious Disease Organization- The Hill Times

WE ARE BIONATION. SOLVING FOR TODAY. BUILDING FOR TOMORROW.

Canada’s biotech sector has been at the forefront of the race to defeat COVID-19. The sector will be a critical building block of the economic recovery.

Through industry-government partnership we can accelerate the advancement of Canadian biotechnology innovation. Our moment is now.

Learn more at bionation.ca. 18 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Biotech Policy Briefing Onto the next pandemic

Canada’s deputy medical health officer Howard Njoo, Canada’s chief medical officer Theresa Tam, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Health Minister , and Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne, pictured Jan. 26, 2020, in the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, less than a month before the WHO declared the COVID-19 virus a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Our fair performance comes in spite of the fact that we appear to have starved a world- leading epidemic early warning unit, our Global Pubic Health Intelligence Network, born out of SARS, just in time to miss the early signs of COVID, writes Harvey Schipper. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

pandemic represents, and in so sential tests and treatments. We Canada is uniquely well- Canada is in a unique position to be a, if doing, we can potentially create a need to push further innovations suited to leading on this health revolutionary and science-driven at the public-private-government economy project. Our biological not the, world leader in preparedness. We health economy. interface with respect to intellec- and medical sciences expertise is, Here’s what we need to do. tual property, financing and risk on a population and expenditure now have an unprecedented opportunity to First, we must develop a work- mitigation of new treatments. basis, world leading already. We reframe our thinking of what a pandemic able, broader pandemic model that To play a leadership role, we just don’t capitalize on it. Also, allows consideration in real time of must also modernize our health our diversity both provides the represents, and in so doing, we can potentially parameters beyond narrow single care. This includes finding a test bed for new interventions pathogen factors. This model would public-private balance that drives and links to other countries that create a revolutionary and science-driven include all-causes of morbidity innovation in health and wellness no other country can match. and mortality, geographic, and delivery. That means incenting Moreover, as a middle power health economy. Here’s what we need to do. social and cultural factors, physi- systems to innovate and reward- with a track record of trust and cal infrastructure contributors, and ing them for it. Government success in forging new concepts economics. It will be essential to could have a role in rewarding for global well-being (such as UN catastrophe of our long-term care develop a common language, so novel healthcare innovations that peace keeping and our founding structure, we have done pretty that the same words have the same produce effective outcomes for leadership of the WHO) we have well so far. Our fair performance meanings across disciplines and patients. Doing this will make our specific advantages in terms of comes in spite of the fact that we communication with the public is system more resilient, flexible, engaging the international com- appear to have starved a world- clear and predictable. innovative, and responsive. munity. leading epidemic early warning We also need to implement Moreover, Canada could What would be the effect of unit, our Global Pubic Health an early warning system that is pioneer the establishment of an all this? If nothing else, we will Intelligence Network, born out globally accepted and transpar- international consortium of like- transform what is now consid- of SARS, just in time to miss the ent. In the rush to finger pointing, minded countries to provide the ered a 15 per cent cost sink to early signs of COVID. we have lost sight of the fact that scientific, industrial, and financial our economy into an economic Harvey Schipper Regardless, our successes and the new virus was characterized means to respond to the next engine of world-leading poten- Opinion shortcomings present learning within weeks of first recognition, pandemic. While no middle power tial. It will create high value, opportunities. We must look to the a quantum leap in our scientific can do it all, a collective can. sustainable jobs. It will attract future with the clear understand- capability. We may already be on In support of internationaliz- risk investment to realms of ORONTO—As we emerge ing that this type of event will the cusp, by virtue of modern ge- ing our health economy, we would enormous human promise. And Tfrom our first encounter with happen again, though in a form netics, of characterizing the popu- do well to identify and reinforce ultimately, an unavoidable by- COVID-19, we are beginning to and from a direction we cannot lation and organ-specific risks of areas of our strength in respect product of these efforts would be take stock of where we stand and fully anticipate. Each pandemic is new pathogens by their genetic to global health threats. It could a next generation health system what we have learned. It has been unique, finding and exploiting the makeup. These technologies must be the production of medical and resilient readiness for the a humbling, at times quite fright- vulnerable niches in our societies. be globally available and globally technologies, or the manufacture next pandemic. ening, and at other times even Canada is in a unique position shared with clear procedures for of essential drugs, or the bridging Harvey Schipper is a professor hopeful experience. to be a, if not the, world leader notification. of distance and cultures. What- of medicine and adjunct profes- We have largely balanced the in preparedness. We now have Canada should lead in the ever the form of our comparative sor of law at the University of scientific, cultural and political an unprecedented opportunity to advancement of global respon- advantages, we ought to establish Toronto. imperatives, and apart from the reframe our thinking of what a siveness and availability of es- them early in this process. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 19 Policy BriefingBiotech

While the effects of COVID-19 on the lungs is widely known, it has emerged that the virus can infect the heart, major blood vessels, and the brain resulting in myocarditis, strokes, and other neurological sequelae. Even more worrisome, are the increasing numbers of people reporting symptoms that persist months after acute illness, so-called coronavirus ‘long haulers,’ writes Charles Weijer. Shutterstock photograph

after acute illness, so-called coro- navirus “long haulers.” Third, procedures for select- Human challenge studies ing participants must be fair. One possible way of reducing the risks of participation in a challenge study is to include people who to speed development of a are at higher risk of infection in the community—the incremental risks of study participation are discounted by their background risk. But the WHO guidelines are COVID-19 vaccine are unethical clear that “those whose back- ground risk is high as a result of social injustice should be ex- If COVID-19 challenge a return to normal life will not expose healthy volunteers to the participants.” The considerable cluded from participation because occur until a safe and effective novel coronavirus? progress observed in traditional their inclusion could be con- studies are not ethical vaccine is widely available. Earlier this year, I served on vaccine development since May sidered unethical exploitation.” How can we speed the the World Health Organization’s 2020 has largely undercut the It has become clear that some at present, do they development of a vaccine for Working Group for Guidance case for challenge studies. Ac- social groups are at higher risk of COVID-19? Some have suggested on Human Challenge Studies in cording to an article in Nature COVID-19 because of structural have a future role in that human challenge studies, COVID-19 that examined this Reviews Drug Discovery (Sept. 4, injustice. Health providers are at in which healthy volunteers are question. In May 2020, WHO 2020), of 321 vaccine candidates, higher risk of COVID-19 when ac- vaccine development? intentionally exposed to the novel issued ethical guidelines for 32 are currently being evaluated cess to personal protective equip- I believe they may. coronavirus, are the answer. COVID-19 challenge studies. Be- in clinical trials “with plans to ment is lacking. Black people and Traditional vaccine studies are cause the guidelines did not rule enrol more than 280,000 partici- indigenous people have higher stepwise and laborious. Estab- out COVID-19 challenge studies pants … in 34 different countries.” rates infection and death from lishing that a vaccine prevents tout court, some interpreted our We are told that “data to support COVID-19 when living conditions disease requires large trials in the report as giving them a “green licensure are anticipated to be are crowded and access to health- community in which some people light.” The Guardian reported available later this year.” As chal- care is poor. receive the vaccine and others that “WHO has said [COVID-19 lenge studies take months to set If COVID-19 challenge stud- are given a placebo. But epidem- challenge studies] could possibly up, we are likely to have a vaccine ies are not ethical at present, do ics are capricious; infection rates go ahead using healthy, young in hand before such studies can they have a future role in vaccine wax and wane, and epicentres volunteers.” Nir Eyal, a bioethicist even begin. development? of infection may shift away from at Rutgers University, was quoted Second, the risks and potential I believe they may. Work should communities in the trial. Because in the same article saying the benefitsof a challenge study must continue on the development of exposure to the infectious agent acceptability of challenge studies be rigorously assessed. In chal- an attenuated strain of the novel Charles Weijer is uncontrolled, vaccine trials in reflects an “emerging consensus lenge studies, “risks to participants coronavirus that causes only mild Opinion the community require tens of among everyone who has thought should … be carefully controlled disease and poses no risk of se- thousands of participants. about this seriously.” and minimized.” But too many vere disease. The development of Human challenge studies are Having thought about this se- uncertainties remain about the an attenuated strain may take one ONDON, ONT.—The CO- more efficient than traditional vac- riously, I do not believe that CO- long-term effects of COVID-19 or two years, but it could prove LVID-19 pandemic is a once- cine trials because they control for VID-19 challenge studies can, at to view intentional infection as useful in the efficient identification in-a-century global health crisis. exposure. Healthy volunteers are present, satisfy the WHO ethical plausibly “controlled” or posing of second-generation vaccines for In Canada, a coordinated public given either vaccine or placebo and guidelines. Three criteria present minimal risk. While the effects of COVID-19, particularly as rates of health response, involving physi- then all are exposed to the infectious obstacles to challenge studies. COVID-19 on the lungs is widely infection decline. cal distancing, testing, contact agent. If less people who received First, the WHO guidelines known, it has emerged that the Charles Weijer is a professor of tracing, and isolation of cases and the vaccine become sick, this is require that a challenge study virus can infect the heart, major medicine, epidemiology & biosta- contacts, has largely been suc- evidence that the vaccine prevents be scientifically justified. Scien- blood vessels, and the brain result- tistics, and philosophy at Western cessful in “flattening the curve.” disease. Because exposure is assured tists must provide evidence that ing in myocarditis, strokes, and University. He was a member Yet, many European countries in a challenge study, only a few hun- “similar results could not feasibly other neurological sequelae. Even of the WHO Working Group for are now in the midst of a second dred participants are needed. be obtained as efficiently or ex- more worrisome, are the increas- Guidance on Human Challenge wave that Canada may not be But is it ethically permissible pediently in other study designs ing numbers of people reporting Studies in COVID-19. able to avoid. It seems clear that for scientists to intentionally involving less risk to human symptoms that persist months The Hill Times 20 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Biotech Policy Briefing

to address the underlying issues Linking science, health and policy more that make this virus and this epi- demic more severe, including the wide-ranging social impacts and research challenges beyond the effectively: foresight for the next normal immediate crisis. What will be the plan after the pandemic is managed? Who will pan, Mexico, the U.K., the U.S., and a meeting of G8 science advisers Multiple expert panels and task show the necessary leadership The lessons of the the EU. The topic is health security and ministers in late 2005. forces are underway in the country and how will citizens participate past should tell us that and bioterrorism—a few months The conference has key sessions at the federal, provincial and ter- meaningfully? Will we see more following the events of 9/11. The on future risks of infectious diseases, ritorial levels tackling key issues in effective national coordination foresight and follow- ministers design a plan for improv- future science and systems for detec- rapid response time. Public health on research, innovation, and ing health security for the future. tion, identification and monitoring, officials and science advisers are health strategies? Can we become up matter. It is not too Among the actions they propose and societal contexts for managing doing their best to filter, assess, and technologically sovereign with are new partnerships to address diseases in the future. Looking 10-25 communicate the fast-moving pace vaccines, medical devices and early to start planning critical issues of public health and years ahead, the foresight study ex- of evidence and data. It is under- equipment while maintaining security, including working more amines potential threats and offers standably piecemeal, reactive, with our global science outreach? Will for a next normal within closely with the World Health Or- visions of future detection, identi- risk assessment and communication we go beyond the mere rhetoric our knowledge and ganization. The objectives include: fication, and monitoring systems. a critical element of the narrative to of being prepared for the next to explore joint cooperation in Framed within a climate change per- maintain public trust and confidence global emergency? research ecosystem procuring vaccines and antibiotics; spective, the report explores human in the polity and the science. The lessons of the past should to engage in constructive dialogue and zoonotic diseases in China and Advice and research is un- tell us that foresight and follow- across the country. regarding the rapid testing, research elsewhere, and notes that the risk derway on a spectrum of issues up matter. in variations of vaccines; to support of zoonotic infection shows no sign ranging from the impact of COVID In short, it is not too early to the WHO’s disease surveillance net- of diminishing and could increase on children, to immunity response, start planning for a next nor- work along with WHO’s efforts to in the future. An action plan is pre- to mental health, to reimagining mal within our knowledge and develop a coordinated strategy for pared underscoring early detection seniors’ residences, to impacts on research ecosystem across the disease outbreak and containment; and the need for high-throughput poor and disenfranchised popula- country. Above all, it is important to improve linkages among level screening of people at airports, as tions, to training of the next gen- to remember that science and four laboratories; and to agree on a well as other forms of surveillance eration of talent. Granting councils technology communities and process for international collabora- and quarantine. are funding pandemic research; their advisory capacities can be tion on risk assessment, manage- Two different times, two differ- schools, universities and colleges mobilized in horizon scanning ment and a common language for ent global contexts—one major are adapting to the new learning; for future opportunities as well risk communications. issue: how to anticipate, mobilize academies and institutes are post- as threats, without compromising Paul Dufour Fast forward five years to May and respond to health outbreaks ing expert blogs and commentary the very nature of longer-term Opinion 6, 2006. The place is London, at with science, technology and on a wide variety of pandemic discovery science. But in the end, the Royal Society. research taking the lead. subjects; innovative industry sec- it is vision and leadership that The occasion is a conference It’s now September 2020. The tors are pivoting to respond … and matters in making decisions, TTAWA—Hindsight is 20/20— on the release of a foresight report place is Canada. The crisis is a the digital world has greatly trans- and trust by citizens that must Oor so they say today. But what titled ‘Infectious Diseases: Prepar- major health pandemic with rami- formed learning and knowledge. be maintained. Otherwise, the happened to foresight? ing for the Future’. The opening fications for society, the economy, But with hindsight, what have shadows of doubt will overcome It’s Nov. 7, 2001. The place address is given by Sir David environment, and global statecraft. we learned from missed warn- the lights of knowledge. is Ottawa. The meeting is with King, chief scientific adviser to Elected officials of all stripes are ings decades ago? Some have Paul Dufour is a senior fellow, health ministers and officials from the U.K. Government who had trying to follow the science and argued that this is a moment not ISSP, at the University of Ottawa. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Ja- provided the report’s highlights at evidence—in its many forms. merely to deal with the virus, but The Hill Times

window of contagion is limited to a guidelines for where to deploy Rapid COVID-19 saliva tests are few days. PCR testing is too sensi- them: front-line workers, schools, tive as it detects viral fragments daycares, COVID-19 hotspots, etc.; from as little as a thousand viruses, consider if and when immunity the swatter that could quash the far below the contagion threshold. tests should be used concomitantly Indeed, an investigation by The to improve sensitivity and reveal New York Times revealed that up to past infections; develop a cellphone pandemic: will Canada deploy them? 85 per cent of positive cases would app to record the results and relay be classified as negative with a the information to the provincial nity, with flu season ahead, and pos- contagion-based threshold. Conse- health authorities; consider ethical The ball is in the government’s hand, and as a sibly an election. We should prepare quently, most quarantines and con- and legal implications; launch an for the worst, so as to prevent it. tact tracing efforts are misdirected. information campaign on rapid first step it could form a COVID-19 task force The current PCR-based testing COVID-19 rapid diagnostic testing, including at-home testing regime is essential, but procedur- tests are available for swabbed- when ready. Finally, we must re- on rapid testing, extending the existing one ally ineffective. Following suspi- samples, and saliva-based tests main agile, as COVID-19 progres- on immunity, to develop a plan for universal cion, we need to seek a designated are imminent. Their sensitivity is sion will dictate the urgencies. test site, undergo nasopharyngeal good, expected to be adequate for All of this will come at a price, rapid testing. Whichever their choice, now is swabbing, and then quarantine for screening for contagious individu- but not only could it save lives, but sometimes days until the results als, and they could thus comple- it will likely pay for itself almost im- time for leadership and action to safeguard are returned. COVID-19 is insidi- ment PCR testing. Epidemiological mediately by reducing lost produc- ous because it is often invisible. models indeed support that daily, tivity due to unnecessary quaran- our health and our economy. Many carriers lack symptoms rapid testing would be much more tining. The benefits could be huge which combined with the inconve- effective at containing COVID-19 if it helps extinguish COVID-19 available shortly and could be de- nience of testing means that about than intermittent PCR testing. outbreaks and lockdowns. It also ployed for screening the population, 40 per cent of infections are never Why are we not deploying rapid constitutes an opportunity to spur deliver results within a few minutes diagnosed, based on a large-scale tests? For one, Health Canada Canadian research, development at the cost of a coffee cup or less— study in Iceland. In case of a viral must approve them, but only took and commercialization of rapid rapid malaria tests cost less than $1. outbreak, testing might quickly be- a first, timid step a few days ago, tests, and to become self-reliant, Whereas Canada has managed come a bottleneck again, precisely by indicating they would consider and importantly, ready to confront to control the initial COVID-19 out- when it is most needed, thus giving them. If we want to fully benefit the next pandemic when it strikes. breaks, the situation could change the virus the upper hand as it from them this fall, we must move The ball is in the government’s rapidly. Israel went in a matter of a spreads through our communities. by leaps and bounds, and marshal court, and as a first step it could few months from one of the most Our understanding of the dis- the best of Canada towards and form a COVID-19 task force on David Juncker successful countries at suppress- ease and technological advances develop a strategy for the most rapid testing, extending the existing Opinion ing the viral spread to an uncon- afford new opportunities to corral effective deployment of rapid, ones on immunity, to develop a plan trolled epidemic with the highest COVID-19. During the course of cheap saliva testing for everyone, for universal rapid testing. Which- death rate per capita following a infection, the viral load grows ex- everywhere. We need to develop a ever their choice, now is time for ONTREAL—As vaccines are premature relaxation of measures, ponentially, from zero to billions of new screening framework around leadership and action to safeguard Mbeing developed at a breakneck reopening of schools, contradictory viruses per millilitre (a spoonful) of contagion and subsequently adjust our health and our economy. pace, it is unlikely that they will be messaging, and political instability. saliva at the peak. Transmission is test performance criteria based David Juncker is a professor available to us before summer next While hoping for the best, Canada found to only occur above a thresh- on contagion data obtained on and the department chair of the year. Rapid tests for COVID-19 that is susceptible to a similar fate with old of tens of millions of virus per the ground; evaluate and ap- Department of Biomedical Engi- are run like a pregnancy test, but schools reopening, with 97 per cent millilitre in laboratory experiments. prove rapid tests and track their neering at McGill University. with saliva instead of urine, will be of Canadians not showing immu- We can safely conclude that the performance in practice; develop The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 21 Policy BriefingBiotech

how to integrate different disci- How the pandemic has driven us to plines and perspectives. Our students responded from the start when the pandemic loomed, from designing PPE and ventilators up our game in research and teaching to engaging with our community to propose new ways to keep the local farmers’ market going safely. The pandemic is a grand chal- Much of this work has been di- university researchers pivot as Moving our teaching online Necessity is indeed lenge that threatens our safety rect and immediately relevant, as it rapidly to solve a grand challenge has forced us to rethink what our and our very existence. is for Ravi Selvganapathy, Canada problem. That we were prepared students need to know and how the parent of This challenge is also a unique Research Chair in Biomicrofluidics, to step up so quickly points to the to present this to them most ef- opportunity for universities to who is leading our Centre of Excel- significance of continuing invest- fectively and efficiently. invention. While lead and innovate in ways that lence in Protective Equipment and ment in research. Our instructors have acceler- the pandemic will benefit humankind well be- Materials, and Tohid Didar and Canada succeeds when it ated the conversion of formal yond the pandemic. Leyla Soleymani, entrepreneurial strengthens its research granting lectures to more engaging proj- entered uninvited, Canada’s universities have the faculty members adapting the bac- councils. ect-based and challenge-based talent and ideas to ensure that the teria-repellent wrap they invented Tackling COVID-19 head on learning, where students learn to we accepted the disruption visited upon us will to stop the transfer of COVID 19 to has given our researchers and solve problems in teams under leave solutions that will benefit commonly used surfaces. students hope and made us realize careful expert guidance and men- challenge to up our us long after the pandemic is Civil engineers Zoe Li and that we have the agency and the toring. This is how engineering game and do our part overcome. Wael El-Dakhakhni are develop- expertise to make a difference. research is meant to be done. We need sustainable, ethical ing a reliable model for municipal In my faculty, deploying our Students are learning about in bringing it to an and responsible solutions for pre- facility operations and reopening researchers as effectively as pos- subjects in virtual classrooms but vention, treatment, and protection decisions to be made in a smarter, sible has also hastened the ongo- also gaining valuable research end. Canada succeeds to deal with the virus itself. To faster and more strategic manner. ing process of making engineer- skills. Assignments are being overcome its far-reaching impacts, Carlos Filipe, a leading ing education more practical and drawn from real-world examples by supporting its we must restructure the way that chemical engineer, is embedded relevant. that encourage them to inquire, goods, services and care are pro- in a team working with vac- Our engineering researchers research background material universities. vided, at home and internationally. cine manufacturers to store and find answers, not by working on and generate solutions. Just as cholera gave rise to transport vaccines safely without their own, but in partnership with Our future graduates are modern sanitation and the Span- refrigeration. My research group medical and scientific research- learning to be agile in the face of ish flu spawned public health, the has developed a home testing kit ers, communicators, policymakers, increasing complexity. battle to overcome COVID-19 will to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 government agencies and industry. Across the country, and inevitably yield new and benefi- antibodies in human blood. This is a good example for our around the world, entire insti- cial knowledge. All these names, including students to follow. tutions like ours are stepping That is where we are focusing mine, are of immigrants. The threat of infection has up with a shared purpose. This our resources on research and Canada succeeds when its forced us to set aside our tradi- concentrated effort will make a education alike. universities celebrate talent, no tional methods of teaching and difference, playing a significant In the Faculty of Engineering at matter where it originates. identified opportunities to create role in overcoming the pandemic. McMaster University, where I serve Across our university, McMas- newer and better ways of educat- Necessity is indeed the parent Ishwar K. Puri as Dean, we have moved quickly, ter’s leading researchers in many ing students that allow us to more of invention. While the pandemic Opinion seizing our share of responsibility disciplines are working with tightly weave together education entered uninvited, we accepted the to help resolve this crisis. one another and collaborating and research. challenge to up our game and do Our researchers have risen with national and global part- From the time they start their our part in bringing it to an end. AMILTON—Tragedy, suffer- to the expectation that we must ners through the Global Nexus undergraduate studies, we ask Canada succeeds by support- Hing, and uncertainty have provide solutions swiftly. They for Pandemics and Biological students to work in labs so they ing its universities. trailed in the wake of COVID-19, have taken the enormous prob- Threats. learn to inquire and understand Ishwar K. Puri is dean of engi- bringing social and economic lems that COVID has created and These are but a few examples. complex problems. They work in neering and professor at McMas- turmoil, and hurting people ev- broken them into manageable In my three-decade career diverse multicultural teams that ter University. erywhere. pieces. in academia, I have never seen create solutions by understanding The Hill Times

interest with respect to one or more for other vaccine supply deals. Liberal government must proposals to be evaluated,” activities But this rings hollow. Compa- and interests that could place task- rable jurisdictions, like the United force members in a conflict of inter- States, have published the value est have not been publicly disclosed. of payments to pharmaceutical end COVID-19 vaccine secrecy According to media reports, companies as deals are reached. there have been 18 potential Former parliamentary budget pandemic response requires clear, inappropriately benefiting from a conflict-of-interest disclosures to office Kevin Page has stated that The Trudeau transparent, and open communi- position of authority or influence date, yet none of this information is Canadians deserve to know they’re cation from governments at all lev- over Canada’s vaccination plans. accessible to the Canadian public. not being gouged by vaccine sup- government owes it els. This is essential for maintain- Such transparency is essential to Public disclosure of potential ply deals and that their federal ing public confidence in recovery ensure Canadians trust any new conflicts of interest, either real government is co-ordinating with to all Canadians to plans and the legitimacy of the vaccine and actually take it. or perceived, is an indispensable international partners on pur- be open, honest, and institutions implementing them. That is why the fact that the component of medical research chases and distribution. Moreover, Unfortunately, the Trudeau Liberal government’s plan is so and practice. Such disclosures he has speculated that the Liber- accountable about its government has demonstrated a shrouded in secrecy is so troubling. are meant to provide assurance als’ refusal to release this costing disturbing tendency to operate In late July, media reports re- to patients that they’re receiving information could be a signal they COVID-19 vaccination with secrecy, manipulation, and vealed that the Trudeau Liberals had information free from bias and to believe they’ve overpaid on early hyper control. quietly appointed a task force to pro- be able to evaluate the advice they contracts. The federal government plans. From withholding important in- vide advice on how the federal gov- receive with full transparency. should clear the air by heeding formation, to improperly censoring ernment should invest in potential The federal government’s Page’s call for the release of a bud- key documents, to shutting down COVID-19 vaccines. Disturbingly, refusal to apply this standard to its get this fall that clearly outlines its Parliament to block committee however, the government refused to vaccine task force is an inexplica- plans for vaccination and costing. investigations, the Liberals appear reveal any details on the task force’s ble and unacceptable break from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau determined to replicate the most membership and work, saying only this standard practice. In our view, cannot continue to claim that secretive tactics of their predeces- that it consisted of experts “outside with so much at stake, the federal “we’re all in this together” if he sors in the Harper government. of government” who have experience cabinet should designate members continues to hide vital informa- As we enter the crucial fall sea- in vaccination, vaccine development, of the task force as public office tion about his government’s son, finding a COVID-19 vaccine is and infectious diseases, as well as holders, which would allow the pandemic response. a top priority for Canadians to en- “industry knowledge.” ethics commissioner to log, review, The Trudeau government owes sure their loved ones stay safe and Although the Liberals were and publish their declarations. it to all Canadians to be open, to rebuild our damaged economy. compelled eventually to release a It is further of concern that honest, and accountable about its NDP An effective, trustworthy vaccine list of the task force’s members, the the Liberals won’t reveal the cost COVID-19 vaccination plans. Opinion will play a key role in ending the board’s deliberations and advice of the vaccine supply deals they After all, the health and well- pandemic and allow a return to have not been made available to the have signed to date, or how much being of all Canadians is at stake. normal life. But Canadians need public. And while the federal govern- they have budgeted for vac- NDP MP Don Davies, who anadians cannot fight COV- to clearly understand the advice ment says it made a deliberate deci- cine purchases. They claim that represents Vancouver Kingsway, CID-19 in the dark. Experience their federal government is follow- sion to include “individuals who may revealing this information would B.C., is his party’s health critic. has demonstrated that an effective ing and be assured that no one is have a real or perceived conflict of compromise ongoing negotiations The Hill Times 22 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Biotech Policy Briefing Collaborative IP strategies for publicly funded R&D needed now and for the future There is little doubt that IP, especially patents, should not be an impediment to forging solutions to the global crisis that we are all facing. It is important that Canada’s policy-makers continue to explore models for facilitating collaborative development and access to essential medicines, treatments, technologies and other innovations.

should ensure that the value of the R&D is fairly shared amongst contributing parties—public and/or private. The private sector should be held to strict obligations around making publicly funded vaccines and cures available to the public on an expeditious and affordable basis. There are a number of IP sharing models that can be explored in this country. For instance, the University of Oxford ad- Karima Bawa & Myra Tawfik opted an IP policy that helps forge partner- IP rights have sparked global Opinion ships around the COVID-19 vaccine. This discourse, especially in the area model balances competing interests in a of patents, because they apply to fair and equitable way by contemplating everything from the medications and t has been said that a crisis brings out royalty-free licensing during the pandemic respirators for those who are sick, to Ithe best and the worst in people. This and a royalty-bearing licence after the the protective equipment required by pandemic is no different. So many people pandemic. Another example is the Open health-care workers, to the vaccine(s) and so many nations have come together in COVID Pledge. This model was developed which we will all, ultimately, require, hopes of finding solutions more quickly by by scientists, technologists, and lawyers to write Karima Bawa and Myra Tawfik. sharing and pooling their resources. They encourage universities, researchers, and Image courtesy of Pixabay have clearly put the collective good ahead companies to make their IP available on a of their own interests. However, others royalty-free basis for the purposes of ending have acted with myopic and unconsciona- the “COVID-19 pandemic” and minimizing ble self-interest, seeking to take advantage its impact. In both these cases, the public- of a crisis to further their own agendas. sector researchers and institutions retain These contrasting behaviours are most the ability to benefit commercially from the prominently displayed in the realm of intel- research if and when the time is right. lectual property (“IP”). Canada is already exploring a variety IP rights have sparked global discourse, of models to encourage greater collabora- especially in the area of patents, because tion and sharing of IP. For instance, as part they apply to everything from the medica- of the national IP Strategy the Canadian tions and respirators for those who are government has already announced the What’s another sick, to the protective equipment required Patent Collective Pilot Program for the by health-care workers, to the vaccine(s) data-driven clean technology sector. It may way to describe which we will all, ultimately, require. In well make sense for Canada to follow the Canada’s high-potential the early days of the pandemic, we heard lead of some European countries and es- stories of IP impeding progress in fight- tablish a sovereign patent fund. This would life sciences ing the pandemic. For example, when a be a fund for the purposes of pooling hospital in Chiari, Italy, began to run out of health care related patents (particularly companies from valves for its respiratory machines and the those that are publicly funded) or patents manufacturer was unable to keep up with that might well fall into the wrong hands sea to sea? the demand, volunteers who wanted to 3D as companies that have struggled through print the valves were not only refused help this crisis may no longer be able to afford from the manufacturer but were allegedly to prosecute them or maintain them. In threatened with a patent infringement suit. addition, it is perhaps more important now, Essential. There was also a patent infringement law- than ever before, to have an independent suit by a shell company against a company organization tasked with helping business- Life sciences that makes COVID-19 tests. es strategically leverage their IP. However, since those early days, many There is little doubt that IP, especially companies in Canada businesses, researchers, universities, and patents, should not be an impediment governments have taken extraordinary to forging solutions to the global crisis are essential to Canadians’ actions to ensure that IP does not get in the that we are all facing. It is important health and our economy. Canada way of helping people through this pan- that Canada’s policy-makers continue to demic. For example, many IP owners have explore models for facilitating collabora- has built an extraordinary knowledge now waived their patent rights to encour- tive development and access to essential age others to develop and manufacture medicines, treatments, technologies and infrastructure, and we must not lose the necessary supplies to fight the novel other innovations. However, whatever the momentum in making our country a coronavirus. The director general of the approaches, they must be directed towards World Health Organization has endorsed the future so that the publicly funded R&D global life sciences leader. the creation of the COVID-19 Technology being generated at this time of crisis, espe- Access Pool to facilitate the research and cially at universities and colleges, can also manufacturing of essential products and realize a reasonable and fair commercial Let’s keep excelling at bringing treatments. The pandemic has disrupted return for Canadians once the crisis has the status quo and has spurred new forms passed. Canadian life sciences to the world. of partnerships between the private sector Karima Bawa is an expert on the com- and universities, colleges and research mercialization of university research and institutions creating new models for com- development. Myra Tawfik is a professor of To learn more visit admarebio.com mercialization. law and distinguished university professor Specifically, there is a clear recognition at the University of Windsor. Both are senior of the need for collaborative approaches to fellows with the Centre for International patents and know-how where research and Governance Innovation and are the co-au- development is publicly funded, whether thors of The Intellectual Property Guide. in whole or in part. These collaborations The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 23 Opinion U.S. should recognize Arctic waters as Canadian

Recognizing the U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers in the Arctic. The Northwest Passage is a disputed and strategically Northwest Passage as valuable waterway in the High Arctic. Photograph Canadian would deny courtesy of Wikimedia Commons access to China and Russia and safeguard U.S. security.

Pierre LeBlanc Opinion

TTAWA—The Arctic’s Ocapacity as a strategic buf- fer is eroding rapidly, with the disappearance of ice making it an avenue of threat to the U.S. homeland. With the power competition between China, Russia, and the United States growing in the Arc- tic it may be wise for the latter to recognize the Northwest Passage as internal waters of Canada. This would deny the right of transit to China and Russia not only on the surface of the passage but also for the air column above and the economic and military power. It warning mission. The U.S. Navy maritime jurisdiction through the by China and Russia. I would waters below (submerged sub- has published a guide on the use could be included in the protec- Arctic Waters Pollution Preven- counter that their gains would marine). It would deny a strategic of the Northwest Passage, and its tion of Canada’s waters, in a fash- tion Act (AWPPA). In 1985, Can- be negligible in comparison with waterway to them. icebreaker Xue Long has visited ion similar to the U.S. Air Force ada defined its internal waters in the Chinese and Russian loss The U.S. government has been the Arctic on several occasions. protecting the air space of both the Arctic using the strait base- of a strategic waterway. Apart slow to recognize the fast-devel- Xue Long 2 is now in the process countries. After all, Canada Arctic line method. A line is drawn from from the waters south of the oping Arctic as a new strategic of doing its first Arctic voyage. It Archipelago is the right flank of the farthest points of land to the Severnaya Zemlya, the Russian theatre of competition where now has a navy larger than the Alaska and its waters allows a next one along the outside of the claims are generally along the China and Russia have been U.S.’s, and is in the process of strategic maritime approach from Arctic Archipelago. The waters coast. The Chinese claims are also expanding rapidly. The U.S. Coast building its own aircraft carriers the east. within that line are considered alongside its coast and would not Guard, the U.S. Air Force, and and amphibious assault crafts, The Northwest Passage is to be internal waters over which likely impede freedom of naviga- the U.S. Navy have now devel- which are power projection as- no longer a promising commer- Canada has total control and tion, except maybe for the Xisha oped Arctic strategies and U.S. sets. Despite its commitment not cial transit route because of the jurisdiction. Islands, which are disputed. Soon President Donald Trump is now to militarize the Spratly Islands, regular presence of multi-year It has long been the position enough the polar route, which pushing for the U.S. Coast Guard it has done so. It has ignored ice, its shallow draft and the of the U.S. Navy to block the goes directly over the North Pole, to acquire up to 10 icebreakers. a decision of the Hague-based many islands requiring slow ma- recognition of the internal waters will be the preferred route with The U.S. has recently ap- Permanent Court of Arbitration neuvering. It comes in the news of the Arctic Archipelago because the continued disappearance of pointed James DeHart, a career in favour of the Philippines in from time to time when an event of the fear that it would create a ice. diplomat, as its Arctic policy czar the South China Sea. It has set threatens Canada’s sovereignty. legal precedent for other nations By formalizing the recogni- to specifically monitor China and debt traps in Africa to secure In 1969 the Manhattan su- to claim jurisdiction over inter- tion of Canada’s strait baseline Russia. DeHart suggested that strategic assets worldwide. The pertanker attempted to cross national straits around the world, method the United States would his appointment marks a turn- Chinese Coast Guard vessels the Northwest Passage to test which could reduce their strategic contribute significantly to its 2019 ing point in the engagement of have harassed Vietnamese fishing the viability of moving crude oil freedom of navigation. Department of Defense (DoD) the United States in the Arctic. In boats in the South China Sea. It from the Alaska North Slope to Donat Pharand, an interna- Arctic strategy, which calls for “A 2004, then-U.S. ambassador Paul has recently arrested two Canadi- the U.S. Eastern seaboard. In tionally renowned scholar and secure and stable region where Cellucci recommended a review ans on fabricated grounds. It has 1985, a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter authority on the United Nation U.S. national interests are safe- of the U.S. position. He believed breached the agreement on Hong transited the Northwest Pas- Law of the Sea, has argued that guarded, the homeland is protect- that Canada could protect the Kong. Although China claims that sage from east to west to reposi- the U.S. Navy concerns were ed, and nations address shared Arctic Archipelago and its waters. it would respect international tion the icebreaker on the West weak, given that the other straits challenges cooperatively.” Cellucci said he believed that it laws and so on, given its track Coast. That led to an agreement have long been established on The national security of the was in the United States’ secu- record, it cannot be trusted. whereby the U.S. would advise historical and traffic volume prec- U.S.A. would be better served by rity interests “that the Northwest Canada and the U.S. are in the Canada of a transit and Canada edents whereas, even to this date, the waters of the Arctic Archi- Passage be considered part of process of planning for the re- would provide permission. Both the Northwest Passage, which has pelago being part of the internal Canada.” placement of the North Warning countries agreed then to leave the seven different possible routes, is waters of Canada. Recently, China, which has System that will lead to the NWS issue dormant without prejudice not used as a regular commercial Retired colonel Pierre Leblanc declared itself a “near Arctic 2.0 and possibly a new and ex- to their respective positions. Both transit route between the Atlantic is a former commander of Joint nation,” has started to behave panded NORAD, which includes have managed their differences and Arctic Oceans. Task Force North and president of more aggressively on the world the U.S. Northern Command. very well over the years. Some would argue that to do Arctic Security Consultants. scene, supported by its growing NORAD already has a maritime In 1970, Canada extended its so may support similar claims The Hill Times 24 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

colleagues in person, and discuss DeLorey, Deltell brief Conservatives their new responsibilities. Ms. Gladu said this was also an op- portunity for Mr. O’Toole to share his vision with his colleagues. on election readiness and fall strategy She said that her party doesn’t want a snap election, but will be ready if one is triggered after the Conservatives don’t process in the ridings not held by Ms. Vecchio said she did not to the hand sanitizer everywhere. Throne Speech. their MPs. In that case, new party know if the Conservatives would …This was just a demonstration “You bond better together want a snap election Leader Erin O’Toole (Durham, have a caucus retreat prior to the to the government that Parlia- in person,” said Ms. Gladu, her Ont.), according to the party con- start of the fall sitting of Parlia- ment can take place with the right party’s critic for president of in the fall but will be stitution, would have the preroga- ment. She said that in-person cau- safety precautions in place, and the Queen’s Privy Council and tive to appoint candidates. cus meetings are much more useful that if other segments of society Federal Economic Development ready if one is called, If the Throne Speech is passed when everyone is at the same are doing this, then certainly we Agency for . in the House, the Conservatives place, compared to the Zoom meet- can do it here on the Hill as well.” “We have a new leader, as you say Conservative MPs. are aiming to complete the nomi- ings where caucus members take Conservative MP Marilyn know, and so I think it’s a chance nation process by Spring 2021, part via computer sitting in their Gladu (Sarnia-Lambton, Ont.) for the leader to roll out his vi- sources told The Hill Times two different regions of the country. agreed. In an interview with The sion. …and the chance for all of Continued from page 1 weeks ago. “This meeting actually was a Hill Times, she also said that the us new shadow ministers with national caucus meeting on Par- The social distancing re- caucus meeting in which we had caucus meeting was an opportu- our new roles to talk with our liament Hill last week. quirements that have become the opportunity to talk about what nity for all Conservative MPs and new colleagues.” Conservatives deny that they necessary during the COVID-19 we usually would on a Wednesday, Senators and the newly appointed [email protected] want a fall snap election, but say pandemic have complicated the going through our regular agenda shadow cabinet to meet with their The Hill Times they will be ready if one is called. logistics of the nomination pro- and just kind of discussing what’s Conservative sources told The cess. Conservative sources pre- going on,” said Ms. Vecchio. She (Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon, Hill Times that campaign manager dicted that the national council declined to go into details of the Conservative House of ): Shadow Minister for Fred DeLorey did a presentation would most likely allow voting by meeting, citing the need for caucus Commons Leadership Team: Housing to the caucus outlining the party’s mail in most ridings. The Con- confidentiality. (Kildonan-St. Paul, ): Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees preparation for the election if a servative Party also used mail in “In-person meeting is really Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole (Durham, Ontario) and Citizenship snap election is triggered after ballots in its leadership election. important, we talk about commu- Deputy Leader: Candice Bergen (Portage- (Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill the Sept. 23 Throne Speech. Mr. As of deadline last week, nication all of the time and being Lisgar, Manitoba) River, ): Shadow Minister for DeLorey, who successfully man- the Liberals had not started the able to be there with your col- Quebec Political Lieutenant: Indigenous Services aged Mr. O’Toole’s come-from- nomination process in any of the leagues and having those discus- (Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Quebec) (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Saskatch- behind leadership campaign, was 338 ridings nationally. The NDP sions are really, really important.” House Leader of the Official Opposition: ewan): Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and appointed as the party’s campaign is expected to finalize its nomina- During a regular parliamenta- Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent, Quebec) Communities manager for next election Aug. 25, tion rules this month. ry session, all parties hold weekly Chief Opposition Whip: (Banff- James Cumming ( Centre, ): two days after the conclusion of Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint- caucus meetings on Wednesday Airdrie, Alberta) Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and the leadership campaign. Laurent, Que.) who was appoint- mornings when the House is sit- Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposi- Industry Mr. Delorey served as the ed as the party’s House leader ting. MPs first huddle with their tion: (Elgin-Middlesex-London, Chris d’Entremont (West Nova, Nova Scotia): party’s director of political op- on Sept. 8, briefed his caucus regional colleagues to discuss Ontario) Shadow Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs & Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency erations in the colleagues last week about the issues that are important in their Deputy Opposition Whip: (Bruce- Grey-Owen Sound, Ontario) (ACOA) government. He was also a top possible scenarios and votes that geographic area, and must be Caucus-Party Liaison: Hon. (Edmon- (Sherwood Park-Fort strategist in Mr. O’Toole’s unsuc- they could face after Parliament shared with the national caucus ton Mill Woods, Alberta) Saskatchewan, Alberta): Shadow Minister for cessful 2017 leadership campaign. resumes later this month. and the party leader. Then the Question Period Coordinator: International Development & Human Rights “Fred assured the caucus that Conservative sources told The MPs come together in roughly (Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, Ontario) (Fundy Royal, New Brunswick): the party will be ready when- Hill Times that the presentations two-hour national caucus meet- National Caucus Chair: ( Shadow Minister for Justice and the Attorney ever the next election is called,” by Mr. Deltell and Mr. DeLorey ings, in which each caucus plot Shepard, Alberta) General of Canada a Conservative source told The were not especially detailed. They parliamentary and policy strate- (Chilliwack-Hope, British Colum- bia): Shadow Minister for Labour Hill Times on a not-for-attribution noted that Mr. Deltell Took his gies, and MPs share with their Conservative Party’s Official basis because all caucus meetings position as House leader just a colleagues what they are hearing Erin O’Toole (Durham, Ontario): Party are confidential. day before the caucus meeting, in their ridings. This is also an Critics: Leader and Shadow Minister for Middle Class Prosperity The nomination process in the and the Mr. Delorey started his opportunity for MPs to meet with (Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond (Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman, 338 ridings across the country is new job about two weeks before colleagues and the party leader. Hill, Ontario): National Security Committee Manitoba): Shadow Minister for National the most important part of any the meeting. In the case of the governing Rob Morrison (Kootenay-Columbia, British Defence party’s election readiness. The The Conservative caucus party, these meetings give op- Columbia): National Security Committee Greg McLean (, Alberta): Conservatives finalized their members congregated in Ottawa portunities to backbenchers to (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Shadow Minister for Natural Resources & nomination rules for the 121 on Sept. 9 for a one-day meet- meet with the prime minister and Ontario): Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Canadian Northern Economic Development ridings currently held by their ing after the leadership election. cabinet ministers and discuss any Agri-Food Agency (CanNor) MPs back in April. Under those Because of social distancing issues important to them. (Richmond-Arthabaska, Quebec): Philip Lawrence (Northumberland-Peterbor- rules, all MPs would be acclaimed requirements, the meeting took However, caucus meetings Shadow Minister for Canadian Heritage, ough South, Ontario): Shadow Minister for Official Languages & Quebec Economic as candidates in their respective place in three different rooms on have been held online since National Revenue Development (, Ontario): Shadow Min- ridings if an election were to be the Hill—two rooms in the John COVID-19 hit Canada in March. Cathy McLeod (Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, held between now and June 2021. A. Macdonald building and one During the peak days of the pan- ister for Northern Affairs & Federal Economic British Columbia): Shadow Minister for Development Initiative for Northern Ontario If an election is called after June in the West Block—but all three demic, Liberals used to hold daily Crown-Indigenous Relations (FedNor) of next year, MPs can still run rooms were connected through caucus meetings on the phone. (Sturgeon River-Parkland, Alberta): (Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario): unopposed if they raise $15,000 audio and video equipment and The Conservatives and NDP held Shadow Minister for Digital Government President of the Queen’s Privy Council & by Dec. 31, 2020. everyone was able to see, hear virtual caucus meetings. (Steveston-Richmond East, British Federal Economic Development Agency for If any Conservative MP fails and participate in the proceed- The House sat virtually before Columbia): Shadow Minister for Diversity and Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to meet the threshold by that ings live. The meeting took place it was prorogued in August, Inclusion and Youth (Lakeland, Alberta): Shadow deadline, they would have to then from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Since and a quorum of MPs from all (Regina-Lewvan, Saskatch- Minister for Public Safety and Emergency raise $25,000 by April 30, 2021. Mr. O’Toole’s election as the party parties attended weekly Special ewan): Shadow Minister for Economic Preparedness If an MP still is not able to meet leader on Aug. 23, this was the COVID-19 Pandemic Committee Development & Internal Trade Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint- (Thornhill, Ontario): Shadow Minis- either of the two deadlines, they first in-person caucus meeting. meetings three days a week in the Charles, Quebec): Shadow Minister for Public ter for Employment, Workforce Development Services and Procurement will have to go through the regu- Conservative MPs interviewed House Chamber. and Disability Inclusion (Perth-Wellington, Ontario): lar nomination process, where for this article said that a vast The Conservatives have been (Central Okanagan-Similkameen- Shadow Minister for Rural Economic Develop- anyone in the riding can run to be majority of MPs attended the pushing the Liberals to restart Nicola, British Columbia): Shadow Minister for ment the party’s candidate. meeting. Caucus members who regular in-person sittings of the Environment and Climate Change (Battlefords-, The fundraising requirements had personal health issues were House. Last week, all Conservative Michael Barrett (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Saskatchewan): Shadow Minister for Seniors set by the party are relatively low, allowed to take part in the meet- MPs interviewed for this article Islands and Rideau Lakes, Ontario): Shadow (Calgary Rocky Ridge, Alberta): and all MPs are expected to be ing via Zoom. argued that if children can return Minister for Ethics Shadow Minister for Small Business & Western acclaimed. In an interview with The Hill back to school, Conservative MPs (Kelowna-Lake Country, British Economic Development The 20-member national coun- Times, newly minted Conser- could hold an in-person national Columbia): Shadow Minister for Export (Calgary Midnapore, Alberta): cil, the highest elected governing vative Deputy House Leader caucus meeting, then all regular Promotion and International Trade Shadow Minister for Transport body of the party, is currently Karen Vecchio (Elgin-Middlesex- House proceedings could also start. (Haliburton-- (Mégantic-L’Érable, Quebec): Brock, Ontario): Shadow Minister for Families, Shadow Minister for Treasury Board working on coming up with the London, Ont.) said that this was “If children can go back to Children and Social Development rules for nominations in the 217 a regular caucus meeting, not a school, then certainly we can go (Barrie-Innisfil, Ontario): (Carleton, Ontario): Shadow Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs ridings not held by Conservatives, caucus retreat. back to Parliament in a safe manner,” Minister for Finance (, Alberta): party sources told The Hill Times The House is returning back said Conservative MP Stephanie (Tobique-Mactaquac, New Shadow Minister for Women and Gender two weeks ago. for its fall sitting on Sept. 23, be- Kusie (Calgary Midnapore, Alta.), Brunswick): Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Equality If an election is triggered this ginning with the Throne Speech. her party’s new transport critic, said Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (Cariboo-Prince George, British month by the vote on the Throne Traditionally, prior to the start in an interview with The Hill Times. (Wellington-Halton Hills, Columbia): Special Adviser to the Leader on Speech, the Conservatives will of every sitting, all parties hold “And certainly we followed all Ontario): Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Mental Health and Wellness not have adequate time to go caucus retreat to plot their parlia- the safety protocols, from wearing (Calgary Nose Hill, (Niagara Falls, Ontario): Special through the regular nomination mentary strategy. masks to being two metres apart, Alberta): Shadow Minister for Health Adviser to the Leader on Tourism Recovery THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 25 News

in the auto sector, and awarding access to Canada’s protected dairy O’Toole’s pitch to working class a sector to foreign competitors. “He has to take responsibility for his actions. So for him to talk tough on China when he’s the one winner, say strategists, but he’ll have that was by far the weakest just reeks of hypocrisy,” said Mr. Dias. “When he kicked off his cam- paign he was picking a fight with to go through union boss Jerry Dias me. The reality is, I accept. Because I’ll compare my record with his any day of the week,” Mr. Dias said. Mr. Dias said that Unifor hurt unionized workers. He will would once again spend money ‘When he kicked off also be asked to explain how he’s on third-party political ads before going to get tough with China, or the next election. When asked his campaign, he was help working families. whether those ads would target “O’Toole’s team is counting on picking a fight with Conservative politicians, he said, the fact that you don’t pick apart “We’ll make that decision with his argument,” she said. me. The reality is, I our national executive board, but Jerry Dias, the president of I don’t see it changing.” accept,’ says Unifor Canada’s largest private sector Asked to respond to Mr. Dias’ union, Unifor, will be working to comments, Mr. O’Toole’s press president Jerry Dias. do just that. secretary, Chelsea Tucker, issued a Unifor represents tens of statement that said he would advo- thousands of workers in the auto, cate for “fair trade deals” and “pru- Continued from page 1 energy, and forestry industries dent domestic economic policies,” mentioned in Mr. O’Toole’s Labour around Labour Day. In that video, and “continue to hold the Liberal Day video. He and Mr. O’Toole also he noted that his father worked New Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, left, has promised to fight for workers government to account to ensure have a history of clashing publicly. for General Motors, and said he and higher wages. Union leader Jerry Dias says Mr. O'Toole has a track record workers receive the supports they On a January stop in Dundas, was “raised in a General Mo- with a government that hurt them. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade need in these unprecedented times.” tors family.” He acknowledged Ont. during his campaign for the that thousands of workers in the Yet, the Conservative Party has video would be “extremely ef- party leadership, Mr. O’Toole told automotive, forestry, and energy been winning over working-class fective” at reaching many of the a gathering of nearly 50 people he China trade talks long dead sectors have been laid off in Canadians over the last several people she grew up with in Ajax, would be “Jerry Dias’ worst night- The Chinese government has recent years. years, said Frank Graves, president Ont., where manufacturing jobs, mare,” according to the Dundas been a favourite target of Mr. He blamed the troubles on of the polling firm Ekos Research. particularly in the automotive Star News. O’Toole’s during his leadership “big government, one that signs A 2013 Ekos poll found that 25 sector, were once a backbone of “I am standing up for the peo- campaign and the early days of bad trade deals with the U.S. and per cent of self-identified “working the local economy. ple that Jerry should be,” he said, his tenure atop the Conservative countries like China,” and on, “big class” Canadians supported the “I think that he will be able likening Mr. Dias to a member of Party. His 90-second Labour Day business, corporate and financial Conservative Party, compared to 31 to tap into a large swath of vot- the Liberal government’s cabinet. video mentioned “trade deals” power brokers who care more per cent for the Liberals and 23 per ers that he needs in the 905, 519 Mr. Dias returned fire in a paid with China twice. about their shareholders than cent for the NDP. By 2019, the Con- regions in order to get closer to ad on Facebook, in which he said Canada does not have a free their employees.” He promised to servatives had easily surpassed the majority territory,” said Ms. Monk, Canadians didn’t want “right- trade agreement with China. Both introduce a “Canada First economic Liberals, with another poll showing who was the founding executive wingers” like Mr. O’Toole and for- the current Liberal government, strategy,” and pursue an economic the Tories with the support of 38 director of the Broadbent Institute, mer party leader Andrew Scheer. and the previous Conservative policy that values “solidarity, and per cent of people who considered and now works as a consultant at In an interview with The Hill government in which Mr. O’Toole the wellness of families,” and in- themselves to be “working class,” Earnscliffe Strategy Group. Times last week, Mr. Dias dis- served, pursued closer trade ties cludes higher wages for workers. versus 21 per cent for the Liberals, The emergence of populist missed Mr. O’Toole’s Labour Day with China, before backing away. “strongmen” politicians, the Brexit video as “hypocrisy.” The Harper government signed vote, and a U.S. president who “He was clearly trying to talk the investment protection agree- If a federal election were held tomorrow, questions the value of multilateral to working class people and to ment with China, and added sev- institutions are signs of a fading workers, that somehow he was eral small-scale trade agreements which party would you vote for? public appetite for unfettered free their friend. But nobody did more worth $2.5-billion during a visit to trade and economic growth at all to hurt them,” Mr. Dias said. the country in 2014. Prime Minister costs, said Yaroslav Baran, a for- Mr. O’Toole served as the par- Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) mer Conservative strategist and liamentary secretary to the trade Liberal government came closest to fellow Earnscliffe consultant. minister in Mr. Harper’s Conserva- signing a comprehensive free trade Mr. O’Toole is just capturing tive government between late 2013 agreement with China in 2017, only that sentiment, said Mr. Baran. and early 2015. During that time, to have it derailed by Mr. Trudeau’s “When he makes an appeal to a controversial foreign invest- insistence on including language unionized workers, for example: ment protection agreement with about gender equality and envi- that’s bold, it’s necessary, it’s smart, China—which was negotiated in ronmental and labour protections and frankly a whole lot of them have 2012—came into effect. During Mr. in the deal. Since then, trade talks been part of the Conservative elec- O’Toole’s time in the trade role, the have been sidelined by a growing toral coalition for years anyways.” government also signed a compre- rift between the two countries that hensive free trade agreement with was triggered by Canada’s arrest South Korea, carried on negotia- of Chinese businessperson Meng Dias drops the mitts tions toward a Trans-Pacific Partner- Wanzhou, and China’s imprison- Courting the labour movement ship trade deal, and struck a trade ment of two Canadians working in comes with risks for Mr. O’Toole deal with the European Union. China, Michael Kovrig and Michael as well, said Ms. Monk. He is tied Those deals have hurt some Spavor. Canadians who consider themselves to be ‘working class’ have increasingly to the policies of the Harper gov- Canadian workers, said Mr. Dias, [email protected] moved to the Conservative Party in recent years, according to polls by Ekos ernment that targeted unions or expanding Canada’s trade deficit The Hill Times Research. Graphic courtesy of Ekos Research Many labourers and trades- and 17 per cent for the NDP. Erin O’Toole’s Labour Day video, word-by-word people in the industries that Mr. A similar shift has happened O’Toole mentioned in that video in the United States, with work- “I was raised in a General Motors family, my dad worked there for over 30 years. I are unionized. Canada’s unions ing class voters moving to the Re- represent a riding of auto workers—one that depends on manufacturing for its prosperity. And have largely been at odds with the publican Party, said Mr. Graves. I have to say, things are not okay. Thousands of auto workers have been laid off. Hundreds of Conservative Party dating back Mr. O’Toole’s Labour Day thousands of energy workers, forestry workers, have lost their jobs. Too many people are living at least as far as the leadership of video, with a focus on jobs and re- on the brink, living in quiet desperation. For them, there isn’t a lot to celebrate this Labour Day. “Part of the problem is big government, one that signs bad trade deals with the U.S. and Stephen Harper, whose govern- storing manufacturing to Canada, countries like China, or that kills entire industries by saying they’re going to phase out the ment passed or supported a series “fits in extremely well with the energy sector. But part of the problem is big business, corporate and financial power brokers of legal changes intervening in current mood,” said Mr. Graves. who care more about their shareholders than their employees. They love trade deals with China labour disputes, making it harder “It almost looks like he’s pre- that allow them to access cheap labour. for new unions to organize, and senting himself as a reasonable “Under my leadership, Conservatives will introduce a Canada First economic strategy, one forcing unions to report more version of Donald Trump. Some of that doesn’t cater to elites and special interests, but fights for working Canadians. financial information publicly. the populist themes are definitely “I believe that GDP growth alone is not the end-all-be-all of politics. The goal of economic Several unions spent millions there. The populism is driven by policy should be more than just wealth creation, it should be solidarity, and the wellness of contempt for elites, and a desire families—and includes higher wages. on advertising campaigns before “My name is Erin O’Toole, I grew up in Bowmanville, Ontario, and I’m here to fight for you the last two elections that urged to restore power to the people.” and your families.” Canadians to vote for any party Former NDP strategist Kath- Source: Conservative Party of Canada but the Conservatives. leen Monk said Mr. O’Toole’s 26 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion We may never get CLASSIFIEDS the full story on WE Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, Information and advertisement placement: his party’s finance critic, 613-232-5952 • [email protected] pictured on Aug. 19, 2020, showing a HOUSES FOR RENT FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY heavily redacted COZY HOME AWAY ATTN: ONTARIO INVENTORS!! document that FROM HOME Need Inventing Help? 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TTAWA—Ottawa hung around in Many other access-to-information OAugust for some 5,000 pages of infor- requests can result in receiving thousands mation on the controversial WE Charity of pages heavily redacted, months or years potential student grant program. later. The released records produced a few Proroguing Parliament for a month cut tidbits about the rushed start up and now off the investigations by the House Finance cancelled student grant program. But about Committee, but Parliament will return, and one-third of the produced records were investigations by the committee, the ethics Call to consult • 613 234 5758 blanked out, mostly excluded as cabinet commissioner, the RCMP and others, likely records. including the Canada Revenue Agency, will [email protected] • [email protected] NDP MP said he believes continue. However, challenging the com- the documents that were released help pleteness of the records provided about the show that the failed program was not cancelled student grant program will be driven by government officials, but by cabi- difficult. net with pressure from WE Charity. It’s ironic that Parliament itself and its Though all relevant documenta- committees are not fully transparent on tion has not been provided, the severed their affairs either, as they are not covered records released do hint at the buddy re- as part of a strengthened Access to Infor- lationships of officials and ministers with mation Act. Yet they want more data from Have a house to rent or sell? WE Charity’s Kielburger brothers. Only the government. later did the Kielburgers register as lob- Thank goodness that the media dug byists, after some of their representations around to get a better, more transparent came to light because of the released picture of the WE Charity practices not Items or products to sell? documents. found on the WE Charity’s website or pub- The House of Commons law clerk indi- lic commentaries. cated that the the records were excessively Still, we are left with a sinking feeling Advertise them in The Hill Times redacted and not complete enough. That’s that much may never become public. because the response received did not One final note: over two years ago, I respect the House of Commons Finance was approached for input by a WE Charity Committee’s order for the production of ghost writer who was putting together a For information contact Kelly: records that supersedes Access to Informa- Kielburger column on transparency. That tion’s claimed exemptions. column never appeared. [email protected] • 613-232-5952 Some opposition MPs are calling this Ken Rubin can be reached at kenrubin.ca. ignoring of Parliament’s wishes a coverup. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 27 Parliamentary Calendar

MONDAY, SEPT. 14 free event online at https://thecic.org/event/cic- edmonton-the-future-of-canada-u-s-trade/. The Public Service of the Future—The Pearson Centre will host this webinar on Mon- Stiglitz, other internationally FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 day, Sept. 14, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. COVID-19 has National Forum on Canada-China Economic highlighted the tremendous work of public ser- Policy—The ’s China In- vants in all orders of government. Throughout stitute hosts its 10th National Forum on Canada- the pandemic, the federal government and pub- renowned economists to address China Economic Policy on the theme “50 Years lic service have pivoted at high speed to design of Evolving Economic Relations.” Speakers and deliver major new programs. New methods include (among others) Peiwu Cong, China’s of service delivery were formulated and enacted Canadian Parliamentarians on Ambassador to Canada; Dominic Barton, in weeks—and all in the remote workplace Canada’s Ambassador to China; Lloyd Axworthy, environment. In this time of unprecedented and former Canadian foreign affairs minister and expedited change, what comes next? What does current chair of CUSO International; and Guy this mean for the short term and long term of economic recovery on Sept 14 Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to government operations? How does this change China. Friday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the expectations of the public service? And EDT. Register via Eventbrite. could this change how those joining the public service view it? Join Linda Silas, president of SUNDAY, SEPT. 20 the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies with Dave Bulmer, president/CEO AMAPCEO-Ontar- Leanne Betasamosake Simpson—Acclaimed io’s Professional Employees in conversation with Algonquin Anishinaabe novelist Karen McBride Andrew Cardozo, president of the Pearson Cen- talks with Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, tre. Register online: https://register.gotowebinar. the award-winning Nishnaabeg storyteller and com/register/2633512177441677071. writer. Her latest book, Noopiming: The Cure The Recovery Summit—Canada 2020, for White Ladies, is a bold reimagination of Global Progress, and partners in The Recovery the novel, one that combines narrative and Project will host The Recovery Summit, a virtu- poetic fragments through a careful and fierce al world-wide conference Sept. 14-17, 2020. reclamation of Anishinaabe aesthetics. The Bringing together a dynamic group of progres- free, pre-recorded event is Sunday, Sept. 20, at sive leaders and stakeholders, the Summit will 2 p.m. RSVP at writersfestival.org. address five themes in the context of recovery, each chaired by a prominent progressive TUESDAY, SEPT. 22 leader: Democracy and Institutions, chaired —A Way Forward: How the Free by Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime World Will Respond to Beijing’s Crackdown— minister of Denmark; Global Public Health, China’s ‘National Security Law’ imposed chaired by Dr. James Orbinski, director of the over Hong Kong eliminated the territory’s Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research freedoms. The question is how will Western at York University; Shared Prosperity, chaired nations work together to respond? Whether by Anne McLellan, former deputy prime through legislation, sanctions, or diplomacy, minister of Canada; Sustainability, chaired by policy-makers must coordinate their efforts Frans Timmermans, first vice-president of the in order to pressure Beijing to reverse course. European Commission; and, Inclusive Societ- MLI is hosting a webinar to bring together ies, chaired by Sadiq Khan, mayor of London. some of the world’s leading voices to provide Register at recoveryproject.ca. insights on the situation facing Hong Kong Rebuilding Better: Delivering a More Equitable and what the democratic nations of the world and Resilient Canadian Economy—Dr. Joseph should do to push back. Tuesday, Sept. 22, Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel prize in economics, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Registerat https://www. and other internationally renowned economists macdonaldlaurier.ca/event/webinar-way-for- address Canadian Parliamentarians on the ward-hong-kong/?mc_cid=b8c75bddd7&mc_ recovery. This first webinar of the “Path towards eid=38a00fb976 for the event. relaunching the economy and protecting the Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, pictured, winner of the Nobel prize in economy, will address Canadian Parliamentarians on the health of Canadians series,” also featuring Dr. recovery, along with other internationally renowned economists. This first webinar of the ‘Path towards relaunching the WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23 Cameron Hepburn of Oxford University and Dr. economy and protecting the health of Canadians series,’ also featuring Dr. Cameron Hepburn of Oxford University and Return of Parliament and Speech from the Peter Victor of York University, will include a Dr. Peter Victor of York University, will include a Q&A session. It is a one-time only event that will not be recorded and Throne—The House of Commons will return Q&A session. It is a one-time only event that for which spaces are limited. For parliamentary offices and key government officials only. Organized and moderated by from the first mid-mandate prorogation will not be recorded and for which spaces are ISG Senator Rosa Galvez (Quebec). Monday, Sept. 14, 1-2:45 p.m. ET. Register here to reserve your place. For any called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on limited. For parliamentary officers and key questions, reach out to [email protected]. Photograh courtesy Commons Wikimedia Aug. 18. The government will lay out its government officials only. Organized and mod- priorities in a throne speech. erated by ISG Senator Rosa Galvez (Quebec). Politics and the Pen 2020: Digital Monday, Sept. 14, 1-2:45 p.m. ET. Register at the accessibility of childcare, institute tax premier Brian Gallant, who’s on the Pearson webinar on “Anti-Black Racism in Canadian Edition—Politics and the Pen will hold a https://rosagalvez.ca/en-webinar-registration/ to rebates, and more, in order to take care of Centre’s advisory board. Wednesday, Sept. 16, Government and Politics.” Speakers include virtual event on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Poli- reserve your place. For any questions, reach out women in this unprecedented financial crisis. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Register: https://register.gotowe- Mary Anne Chambers, former Ontario Liberal tics and the Pen is a highlight of political to [email protected]. Tuesday, Sept. 15, from noon to 1 p.m. binar.com/register/2649811337717190927. cabinet minister; Richard Sharpe, Federal Ottawa’s social calendar and an important TUESDAY, SEPT. 15 Tickets available at canadianclub.org. THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 Black Employee Caucus; Debra Thompson, annual fundraising event benefiting the WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16 professor of political science at McGill Univer- Writers’ Trust. The in-person event regularly International Day of Democracy—According Racism, Anti-oppression, and International sity; and Karine Coen-Sanchez, PhD candidate attracts 500 guests from Canada’s political to the United Nations, the International Day of Donner Prize Presentation—The winner Affairs—The Balsillie School of International in sociology at the University of Ottawa. Thurs- and literary circles. The 2020 digital event Democracy provides an opportunity to review of the 2019/2020 Donner Prize for Public Affairs hosts a webinar on “Racism, Anti- day, Sept. 17, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Register will feature a special presentation of the the state of democracy around the world. Policy will be revealed during an online oppression, and International Affairs,” part for the free webinar via Eventbrite. 20th Shaughnessy Cohen Prize as well as Assault on Press Freedom Threatens program at 11 a.m. ET on the Donner Prize of its Global Insights series. A yet-to-be- A National Project: Syrian Refugee Resettle- memorable moments from past galas. To Democracies—This live virtual event with YouTube channel and Facebook page. The announced panel of experts will discuss how ment in Canada—The Balsillie School Interna- date, Politics and the Pen has raised more victims and advocates is hosted by the Ca- prize was created to honour the best public the study of politics and international affairs tional Affairs hosts the launch of a new book, A than $4.5-million to support the programs nadian Committee on World Press Freedom, policy thinking, writing, and research by a have come under scrutiny for their racial- National Project: Syrian Refugee Resettlement of the Writers’ Trust. This year’s finalists featuring a keynote address by Philippine Canadian. The 2019/2020 shortlist titles ized assumptions and biases, and the new in Canada. The book’s editors and immigration are: Canada on the United Nations Security journalist Maria Ressa who has been threat- were chosen from a field of 74 submissions. opportunities arising for self-examination, experts will discuss the experiences of refugees Council: A Small Power on a Large Scale, ened and jailed by President Rodrigo Duterte The winner receives $50,000, while each structural reform, reconciliation, alliance, and and receiving communities during Canada’s Op- by Adam Chapnick; Peace and Good Order: and is now battling legal charges related to other nominated title receives $7,500. justice. Thursday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to eration Syrian Refugee from 2015-2016. They The Case for Indigenous Justice in Canada, critical investigative journalism in her online Cybersecurity for the Remote Workplace: noon. Register at balsillieschool.ca. also offer key lessons to be learned from Cana- by Harold R. Johnson; Claws of the Panda: publication Rappler. She will then be joined Security in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond—In For a Healthy Canada: Benefits of a Clean da’s program. Speakers include Leah Hamilton, Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimi- by Irwin Cotler, former justice minister and our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity and Sustainable Recovery For Canadians’ associate professor, Bissett School of Business, dation in Canada, by Jonathan Manthorpe; chair of Montreal’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre challenges for workplaces and private citizens Health—The second webinar of the “Path Mount Royal University; Luisa Veronis, associ- Truth Be Told: My Journey Through Life and for Human Rights and Rachel Pulfer, execu- have grown in recent decades, as bad actors towards relaunching the economy and pro- ate professor and research chair in immigration the Law, by Beverley McLachlin; and Cana- and Franco-Ontarian communities, University of tive director of Journalists for Human Rights, continue to grow in numbers and sophistica- tecting the health of Canadians” series will dian Justice, Indigenous Injustice, by Kent for a discussion of possible responses by tion. With rapid digital advancements due feature Dr. Kristie Ebi, Dr. Trevor Hancock, Ottawa; and Margaret Walton-Roberts, professor Roach. For information and sponsorship, democratic governments. Tuesday, Sept. 15 to COVID-19, this challenge has grown at an and Dr. Elaine McDonald. It will focus on of geography and environmental studies, Wilfrid contact Julia Yu, events manager, at jyu@ at 10:30 a.m. ET. To join the event, register exponential rate. As the cyber workplace has the links between environmental protec- Laurier University, and the Balsillie School of writerstrust.com via worldpressfreedomcanada.ca. intertwined the personal and professional tion and human health and include a Q&A International Affairs. Thursday, Sept. 17, from Reversing the Shecession and Rebuilding lives of many, cybersecurity concerns on these session. It is a one-time only event that will 5:30-7 p.m. Register via Eventbrite. The Parliamentary Calendar is a free the Canadian Economy—The Canadian Club fronts have been combined as well. Join us not be recorded and for which spaces are The Future Of Canada-U.S. Trade—The Cana- events listing. Send in your political, cultural, of Toronto hosts a virtual event: “If I Had a as we discuss the challenges we face and the limited. For parliamentary offices and key dian International Council’s Edmonton chapter diplomatic, or governmental event in a para- Billion Dollars: Reversing the Shecession and possible solutions needed today and tomorrow. government officials only. Organized and hosts a webinar on “The Future Of Canada-U.S. graph with all the relevant details under the Rebuilding the Canadian Economy.” Former Hosted by the Pearson Centre, it will also moderated by Senator Rosa Galvez. Thursday, Trade,” featuring Dr. Greg Anderson, professor subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@ Ontario premier ; Tina Lee, discuss how cybersecurity concerns impact Sept. 17, 1-2:45 p.m. ET. Register at https:// in political science at the University of Alberta; hilltimes.com by Wednesday at noon before CEO of T&T Supermarkets; Ken Boessenkool, Canada internationally and how this may rosagalvez.ca/en-webinar-registration/ to re- Carlo Dade, director of the Trade and Invest- the Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the partner at KTG Public Affairs Ltd.; and Dawn impact security in new areas in the years to serve your place. For any questions reach out ment Centre at the Canada West Foundation; Wednesday paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion Desjardins, deputy chief economist, RBC, will come. Join John Menezes, president and CEO to [email protected]. and Dr. Meredith Lilly, associate professor at of every event, but we will definitely do our best. discuss how they would each use $1-billion of Stratejm Inc. and Liberal MP John McKay Anti-Black Racism in Canadian Government Carleton University. Thursday, Sept. 17, from Events can be updated daily online, too. to support safe returns to school, increase in conversation with former New Brunswick and Politics—The University of Ottawa hosts a 6-7 p.m. MDT. Members can register for the The Hill Times

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