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Presence of Backbench Mps, Cross-Canada Representation Restricted During In-Person House Sittings Amidst Physical Distancing

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Presence of Backbench Mps, Cross-Canada Representation Restricted During In-Person House Sittings Amidst Physical Distancing Pulling back curtain Embassy INFRASTRUCTURE on campaigns pp. 13-14 goes online to mark dark Armenian anniversary p. 27 Policy briefi ng pp. 15-20 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1721 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020 $5.00 News Northern aff airs trying to ensure the needs of her Nunavut politicians say feds must ‘step up’ prevention 38,000 constituents across 25 re- mote communities are addressed. The pandemic has laid bare measures, fearing COVID-19 could spread ‘like wildfi re’ the “glaring gaps” in service to Nunavummiut, she said, and the government so far has failed to BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN put aside more funds to prepare enough to prepare for COVID-19 As the lone MP representing pay enough attention to preven- the territory, saying the $30.8-mil- cases, which they warn could the largest electoral riding in the tion. Nunavut has yet to have a unavut politicians are calling lion promised last week is “a spread like wildfi re in small com- world, the NDP’s Mumilaaq Qa- Non the federal government to drop in the bucket” and not near munities. qqaq said it can be overwhelming Continued on page 22 News House of Commons News Corrections Presence of backbench MPs, cross-Canada Prison farm program should representation restricted during in-person be broadened House sittings amidst physical distancing to increase prisoner Backbench MPs who typically make up a majority of the House of Commons have had their presence shrink as cabinet members and House offi cers make up the majority of the Chamber in COVID-19 sittings. distancing amid BY NEIL MOSS Liberal MP COVID-19, Ken Hardie, ith reduced numbers of MPs pictured on advocate argues Wsitting in the House amidst April 20 in the coronavirus pandemic, the pres- the House of BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN ence of backbenchers and equitable Commons, geographic representation has been was one of two rison farm programs in two constrained in three sittings since Liberals with no POntario institutions could be the pandemic hit Canada. offi cial House broadened to help alleviate the In normal times, backbench or government impact of COVID-19, says an ad- MPs make up the largest portion role present vocate whose call is bolstered by of the House of Commons, but in for this week's two Parliamentarians, who say the the three sittings since the House sitting and only Correctional Service of Canada was adjourned on March 13, one of the four needs to do a better job protecting cabinet members, party leader- B.C. MPs at the prisoners from the virus. ship offi cials, and House offi cers parliamentary Between the two southern have outnumbered rank and fi le session. The Ontario prisons in question—Col- caucus members. Hill Times lins Bay Institution and Joyceville photograph by Continued on page 21 Andrew Meade Continued on page 25 Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 News Foreign aff airs zan says Canada should be work- coming out of Beijing in Janu- Praising rapid Taiwanese response to COVID-19, ing “hand in glove” with Taiwan to ary and early February were not support its inclusion at the World numbers that could be relied Health Organization table. upon. MPs call for post-pandemic WHO inquiry Mr. McKay (Scarborough– The WHO could have inadver- Guildwood, Ont.), chair of the tently “contributed to that level of BY MIKE LAPOINTE tiny of health information coming of the COVID-19 pandemic much House Public Safety and National misinformation,” Mr. McKay said, from Chinese authorities, with earlier than other governments Security Committee, said he adding that governments around Ps on both sides of the aisle Liberal MP John McKay saying and “took appropriate measures,” thought there was broad-based Mare calling for greater scru- Taiwan recognized the true threat while Conservative MP James Be- consensus that the virus numbers Continued on page 23 2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES “Its realization was a great accomplish- Canada Border Security Agency (CBSA), ment of many, notably Brian Mulroney, but among others. Allan Gotlieb was the uber-Ambassador Prof. Carvin wrote on Twitter that the we had to have, were lucky to have, who book is “the fi rst guide” on national security Heard on the Hill so fi gured in it becoming reality,” wrote and intelligence agencies, to her knowledge. Mr. Kinsman, who served as envoy to the “The book is meant to be a guide for the United Kingdom and Russia, among other public, students, MPs, the media, and even a by Neil Moss locales. He added that, personally, Mr. Got- refresher for review agencies and the depart- lieb taught him “immensely.” ments and agencies themselves,” she wrote. “Allan Gotlieb was uniquely gifted, vision- The 272-page book will be released later ary, and able. Like no one I have ever met.” in 2020. In 2007, Mr. Gotlieb released his person- ‘Like no one I have ever al diaries chronicling his time in D.C., from his growth of infl uence in U.S. eyes during the government of then-prime minister Former Liberal MP Aileen Mulroney, to his efforts to create Canadian met’: former Canadian links with members of the U.S. Congress. Carroll dies at 75 “I took the Washington Diaries with me on all of my diplomatic postings and used Aileen it as a template for what my life could be,” Carroll, who ambassador to U.S. tweeted former diplomat and current Con- served in Paul servative MP Stephanie Kusie on April 20. Martin’s cabi- “So few great minds. It’s hard when one net, died on departs,” she added. April 19. Allan Gotlieb dies at 92 Speaking to The Hill Times in the midst “She was of the the rocky NAFTA renegotiation just a strong ad- after the tumultuous G7 summit in Char- vocate for her Allan Gotlieb levoix, Que., when Trump administration region, for her was Canada’s offi cials were lashing out at Prime Minister province, and ambassador to the Justin Trudeau, Mr. Gotlieb said in the Can- for Canada’s United States from place in the ada and U.S. relationship, the two countries Aileen Carroll was the minister 1981 to 1989. world. She had an “understanding” that there would be of international co-operation The Hill Times fi le continued to a “special regard for Canada.” But he had from 2003 to 2006. The Hill photograph be actively concerns that the “special relationship” had Times fi le photograph been spurned due to U.S. President Donald involved in her Trump’s America First policies. community “Canada does not emerge in the uni- after leaving politics. Her impact extends verse of Trump as a country that requires right across the country and her legacy will special sensitivity or thoughtfulness,” he live on,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said said at the time. in an April 20 statement. Ms. Carroll served at all three levels of government and was the federal minister y the time he fi nished serving as Cana- From 1981 to 1989, he served as Canada’s of international co-operation from 2003 Bda’s top diplomat in Washington, D.C., ambassador to the United States—largely over- ‘First guide’ to Canada’s to 2006. She was also the Ontario culture for one Progressive Conservative and two lapping with the presidency of Ronald Reagan. minister from 2007 to 2010. Liberal prime ministers, Allan Gotlieb was Mr. Gotlieb was an early backer of what national security apparatus From 1997 to 2006, Ms. Carroll repre- noted as having an expansive understand- would become NAFTA, which, as former sented the Barrie, Ont., area in the House ing of the Canada-U.S. relationship. Canadian diplomat Jeremy Kinsman wrote to be released later this year of Commons, before being defeated by Mr. Gotlieb died on April 18, at the age in Policy Options on April 20, “changed the then-Conservative MP Patrick Brown. of 92. dynamic of history in North America.” An upcoming book by three Ottawa- In the House on April 20, Conserva- based academics will look into Canada’s tive MP Doug Shipley—who represents largely hidden national security and intel- Barrie—Springwater–Oro-Medonte, Ont.— ligence network. said that Ms. Carroll was “a great Barrie Top Secret Canada: Understanding the resident.” Canadian Intelli- gence and National Security Community is edited by Carleton Canada Day celebrations University professor Stephanie Carvin will shift online and University of Ottawa professors The federal Thomas Juneau and government Craig Forcese. has found a Prof. Carvin is resolution a former Canadian to end the government national gridlock and security analyst and bustle of Ot- tawa’s Canada Top Secret Canada: Prof. Forcese is an Day celebra- Understanding the expert on national tions: make Canadian Intelligence security law–together them virtual. and National Security they are the co-hosts Canadian Community. Book of A Podcast Called Unlike in years past, there Heritage Min- cover image courtesy Intrepid. Prof. Juneau won’t be thousands on the ister Steven of University of is a former Depart- Hill this year to celebrate Guibeault Toronto Press ment of National Canada Day. The Hill Times announced the Defence analyst and photograph by Sam Garcia an expert on the Middle East. decision last The book will include a chapter on the week. relationship between the Prime Minister’s “In light of the current and ongoing Offi ce and intelligence agencies, authored COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and around by Carleton University professor and the world, our government has decided to former Harper PMO foreign affairs and celebrate Canada Day differently this year, international trade adviser Meredith Lilly.
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