Diplomatic Circles p. 6 Canada Want a blooming economy? puts Belarus on blast Hungary envoy p. 4 Put nature first eyes new momentum Sandra Schwartz p. 12 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1779 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020 $5.00 News News Three weeks to deadline, Charm offensive 2.0: how gridlocked Finance Canada is preparing for a Biden Committee’s administration and a new cabinet pre-budget U.S. president- The embassy elect Joe Biden, study in doubt right, and vice- compiles an president-elect Kamala Harris, BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT exhaustive list of left, will assume control of the ocked in an impasse since the potential cabinet White House House of Commons’ return, L on Jan. 20. the Finance Committee has yet to members and Former Canadian begin its pre-budget consultations ambassador and the clock is running out for those who may be Raymond Chrétien it to submit a report with recom- appointed to key says Canadian mendations to Parliament. officials will have The Standing Orders dictate positions, which greater access that the Finance Committee must include their with the Biden administration Continued on page 14 history and their than it has had over the last four ties to Canada, say years. Photograph former diplomats. courtesy of Twitter/ News Joe Biden Senate BY NEIL MOSS Canadians breathing a sigh of embassy in Washington, D.C., in for the second new administra- relief after four turbulent years of the Pearson Building, and in the tion in four years. committees halted he victory of U.S. president- the Trump administration, but for Prime Minister’s Office—there is from holding Telect Joe Biden had many Canadian officials—in Canada’s much work to be done to prepare Continued on page 17 hybrid, virtual For more U.S. election analysis, see: Scott Taylor and Andrew Caddell, p. 9; Lisa meetings as Van Dusen, p. 10; Les Whittington and Ross O’Connor, p. 11; and Tim Powers, p. 12. Conservatives and ISG point fingers Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 News BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN enate committee starts were New judicial expense disclosures judge, but that was flagged as poten- Sfurther delayed as the bicker- tially unconstitutional and changed ing groups couldn’t agree on the to disclose spending by court in- rules to meet, including halting strike ‘right balance,’ say legal advocates stead. Since April, these disclosures the work of one crucial committee have been published quarterly. With two such reports now whose “unusual” hiatus its chair BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN lowing a law passed during the last advocates and one Senator who public, it represents a “good com- warned puts the Senate “at risk.” Parliament, and the new numbers previously opposed the legislation. ederal judges are releasing their show the move struck “the right The first version of the law would Continued on page 15 Continued on page 16 Fexpenses for the first time fol- balance,” according to judicial have released spending totals by 2 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Alex Trebek is pictured on Parliament Hill in Heard on the Hill 2015. The Hill Times photograph by Neil Moss by Andrew Meade The Hill to honour Remembrance Day in minimalist ceremony Conservative MP Michael Barrett was a telecommunication lineman in the Cana- ‘He inspired a generation to dian Forces. Six other Parliamentarians learn’: Hillites commemorate with vintage flyover were members of the Canadian Reserves, Alex Trebek including non-affiliated Senator Patrick Brazeau, Conservative MP Marc Dalton, From a University of Ottawa student to the CSG Senator Percy Downe, Conservative 36-year host of Jeopardy, Alex Trebek was be- MP Peter Kent, Conservative MP Dane loved for his wit and philanthropy. He died on Lloyd, and Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi. Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. Liberal MP Ramesh Sangha is a veteran of “Alex Trebek is a Canadian icon. He brought the Indian Air Force. over 3 decades of wit, humour, and education to millions globally. He inspired a generation to learn,” tweeted Liberal MP Hedy Fry. Yasmin Ratansi resigns from Mr. Trebek hosted the most episodes of a single game show—hosting more than Liberal caucus, will sit as 8,000. A frequent Emmy winner, he got his Independent after ‘error in start with CBC hosting Reach for the Top. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a judgment’ statement that Mr. Trebek was a daily part Veteran MP Yasmin Ratansi will join of life for many. the Independent ranks after departing the “Alex never hesitated to promote Liberal bench due to an “error in judgment” Canada on prime time TV, and to take the she said she made by employing her own opportunity to stump even the brightest sister in her constituency office. contestants with questions about Canadian culture, history, and geography,” he said. “More than a TV icon, Alex Trebek spent decades instilling a love of learning in mil- lions of Canadians and people around the world—all while remaining dedicated to The National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the War Memorial will have a maximum of 100 educational, environmental, and humani- attendees as the Canadian Legion is encouraging the thousands of Canadians who typically attend tarian causes,” added International Trade to watch from home. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Minister Mary Ng in a tweet. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted s the National Remembrance Day rial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, that “gentle approach, big heart, and warm ACeremony will be scaled down amid will be restricted to a maximum of 100. It demeanour shared a little bit of Canada the COVID-19 pandemic, onlookers will be will be broadcast live. th with the world.” gazing up to mark the 75 anniversary of Deborah Sullivan will be the Silver “Alex Trebek was invited into so many the end of the Second World War. Cross Mother for this year’s ceremony. Her of our homes during family time and TV To mark the milestone, three vintage son, Christopher Edward Saunders, was dinners, that he felt like an extended fam- aircraft will fly over the Hill at the end of killed in a fire on board HMCS Chicoutimi ily member,” he said. the ceremony. The flyover will include the in 2004. On the Hill, the carillon played the Jeop- Douglas C-47, the Curtiss P-40, and the For 19 Parliamentarians who served ardy theme song in Mr. Trebek’s honour. North American Harvard. in the Canadian Armed Forces and the He visited the House in 2015 when he was The Douglas C-47 was a transport plane Reserves, the ceremony will have special in Ottawa for the opening of Alex Trebek that was deployed to Europe and South symbolism. Alumni Hall at the University of Ottawa. He East Asia during the war and took part in Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was called Question Period “a bit repetitious.” D-Day paratrooper drops as well as Opera- in the Canadian Army where he served tion Market Garden. The Curtiss P-40 was multiple deployments to Afghanistan, as a fighter plane and the North American did Conservative MP Alex Ruff, who is a Yasmin Ratansi has been a Liberal MP since Mary Ng takes part in ‘first of its Harvard was a training aircraft. veteran of six operational deployments in- 2015. She was previously an MP from 2004 to kind’ virtual trade mission with cluding two tours in 2011. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Afghanistan in 2007 South Korea and 2012 and one in As the pandemic has shifted the typical Iraq as part of the The chair of the House Committee on operations of international trade, Canada fight against the so- Environment and Sustainable Develop- embarked on two virtual trade missions called Islamic State, ment has been an MP since 2015. She was with South Korea last week. or ISIS. Conservative previously an MP from 2004 to 2011. The Asia Pacific Foundation hosted MP Pierre-Paul Hus “I made an error in judgment by em- Canada’s first women-only trade mission also was in the Army, ploying my sister in my constituency office, to South Korea on Nov. 3 and 4, and Inter- as was Indigenous and I have remedied the situation, but this national Trade Minister Mary Ng hosted a Services Minister does not excuse the error I made,” she an- second mission on Nov. 5 that was targeted Marc Miller and nounced in a Nov. 9 Facebook post. at the IT, AI, and life science sectors. Bloc Québécois MP CBC reported that Ms. Ratansi’s sister, “It’s not quite business as usual,” Ms. Ng Michel Boudrias, Zeenat Khatri, worked in the constitu- told the House Committee on International who served in the ency office for “much” of the time of Ms. Trade on Nov. 3 about the initiative. “The prolific Royal 22e Ratansi’s political life. Employing siblings pandemic has forced us to adapt in innova- Régiment—more became a violation of House rules in 2012. tive ways that are redefining how interna- commonly known as Ms. Ratansi, who represents Don Valley tional trade can be done.” the Van Doos. East, Ont., said she referred the matter to The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agree- Canadian soldiers are pictured preparing to jump from a Douglas C-47 Conservative the Office of the Conflict of Interest and ment, which was concluded by the Harper during parachute training at Georgia’s Fort Benning in September Leader Erin O’Toole Ethics Commissioner. government, has been in force for five 1942. Photograph courtesy of Harry Rowed of the National Film Board/ was in the Royal The 43rd Parliament has two other Inde- years.