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p a p er Continued onpage 32 Andrew Meade photograph by Hill Times politicos. vaccine, say a COVID-19 rollout planfor articulate the messaging to needs effective government conference. The holding apress Rideau Cottage outside the 24, 2020, pictured Nov. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister The The MONDAY, DECEMBER7,2020$5.00 P plan’s feasibility of ambitious critics wary recovery, but for economic targets key immigration increased Feds say News News regulations marking gun off the keep putting Liberals Why the messaging, law enforcement, and torn between itstough-on-guns is asignthat thegovernment is lations threeyears down theroad punt theFirearms MarkingRegu- BY PETER MAZEREEUW T newcomers tothe country next BY MIKE LAPOINTE Blair’s Nov. 30decisionto ublic SafetyMinisterBill welcome morethan400,000 he government plansto Continued onpage 31 Continued onpage30 2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

One on One: Favourite Conversations and Medical Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, the Stories Behind Them. Mr. Bulgutch Assembly of First Nations National Chief also wrote That’s Why I’m a Journalist and Perry Bellegarde, World Health Organiza- That’s Why I’m a Doctor. tion Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Heard on the Hill and former governor general Adrienne Canadian Club of Ottawa to host Clarkson will be linked in remotely to by Palak Mangat talk ‘Too Small to Fail: Canada’s thank all the front-line workers on Dec. 10, Economic Recovery Needs a at noon. The virtual ceremony is free and open to everyone. Small Business Rebound’ The Canadian Club of Ottawa will host a virtual panel discussion, headlined “Too O’Toole out on the meet CAJ wants to know Small to Fail: Canada’s Economic Recov- & greet circuit ery Needs a Small Business Rebound,” Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, who’s been out on virtual fund- The Toronto raising circuit, is stepping up his game with how diverse Canadian Star’s Heather more meet and greets this week. He has Scoffield will two on Thursday, one hosted by Jordan Ku- moderate the pinsky at 5 p.m. and with Stewart Lyons, at Canadian Club 6 p.m. Both are Zoom virtual events. media is, doing of Ottawa’s virtual panel discussion Parliamentary Press Gallery on economic Children’s Christmas Party first-ever, annual recovery on Dec. 9. The 2020 goes virtual Hill Times It’s on with the show-this-is-it for this photograph by year’s annual Parliamentary Press Gallery representative survey Andrew Meade Children’s Christmas Party. Normally held on the Hill, the annual party for the Hill also on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. The Toronto Star‘s media’s kids usually brings out the child in Heather Scoffield will moderate the discus- everyone, but because of the global pan- sion with Paul Thompson, associate deputy demic, it will be hosted remotely this year. minister of Innovation, Science, and Eco- The party-at-home will be held by Zoom on nomic Development Canada; Perrin Beatty, Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. Members of the president and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Hill media who have small children taking Commerce; Dr. Wendy Cukier, professor of part in this year’s virtual party should pick Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Ted Rogers up their loot bags and gifts for the children School of Management; and John Stack- on Dec. 7 at the National Press Theatre in house, senior vice-president, Office of the Ottawa. This year’s party will include a CEO, RBC. Mr. Stackhouse, former Globe magic show, a message from Santa, arcade and Mail editor before David Walmsley, games and colouring. Families are also also recently wrote Planet Canada: How asked to send in video messages of good Our Expats Are Shaping the Future. cheer, or family photos. The gallery is also asking Hill media members who have small children to either send in short 30-second or Dalton McGuinty to host talk with 40-second videos of their family members The Canadian Association of Journalists is launching what it calls the country's first-ever diversity George Mason University’s Justin wishing others best wishes, or to send in survey of Canadian media outlets, in an effort find out just how diverse Canadian media are, and it photos of the family enjoying the party. plans on doing it annually. Image courtesy of CAJ Gest on populism in the American election, lessons for Canada Former Ontario premier Dalton Mc- The Crown’s season four he Canadian Association of Journalists also turned a spotlight on systemic racism Guinty will host a Pearson Centre webinar attracts 29 million viewers, Lady Tis launching what it calls the country’s everywhere, and in all facets of society, in- with Justin Gest, author and associate pro- first-ever diversity survey of Canadian cluding in politics, government, the private fessor of policy and government at George Di still iconic, compelling figure media outlets, in an effort find out just how sector, the academic world, and the media. The Crown, the smash-hit Netflix diverse Canadian media are, and it plans In Canada, many media outlets promised Dalton fictionalized series about the life of Queen on doing it annually. to end any systemic racism at their orga- McGuinty, Elizabeth II, is a hot ticket these days. As “There is widespread consensus around nizations and to boost their own diversity, former people binge-watch movies and series the need for Canadian media to reflect the which is why the Canadian Association of Ontario during the global pandemic, The Crown’s society it serves. But addressing repre- Journalists has decided to do the survey. Liberal season 4, which covers the years 1977 to sentation, or lack thereof, in the industry premier, 1990, and introduces Lady Diana Spencer requires that we measure the level of diver- Trudeau to host first ministers will talk to into the series, her royal wedding to Prince sity in newsrooms across Canada,” reads Justin Gest Charles, and their rocky marriage, has the notice, sent out on Nov. 25 by Brent meeting on Dec. 10 on Dec. 10 reportedly attracted 29 million viewers, ac- Jolly, the CAJ’s president and national di- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will host at a Pearson cording to Britain’s Tattler. rector of the National NewsMedia Council, a first ministers meeting on funding for Centre and Karyn Pugliese, CAJ’s past president health care on Dec. 10. Intergovernmental webinar. The and a professor at Ryerson’s School of Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc an- Hill Times Journalism. nounced the date on Twitter last week. The photograph by “Since the organization’s founding in premier want to focus on the annual feder- Andrew Meade 1978, the CAJ has served as a professional al transfer payments to the provinces and development and public-interest advocacy territories for health care, but the govern- group for journalists across Canada. As the ment also wants to talk about strengthen- country’s only national professional asso- ing health care. Premiers had been asking Mason University in Washington, D.C., on ciation for journalists, the CAJ is uniquely for a first ministers meeting with the prime Dec. 10, from 7 p.m-8 p.m. about American placed to conduct a media diversity survey. minister since September. populism and lessons for Canada. “Prof. Similar national organizations, like the Justin Gest has written extensively on the News Leaders Association (NLA) in the Mansbridge to talk about his growing sense of marginalization driving U.S., have published diversity surveys in people to the extremes while the middle is their countries for several decades. It is book, Extraordinary Canadians getting hollowed out, or at least is getting Princess Diana, pictured in Ottawa on a Royal Visit past time for Canada to do the same,” the squeezed out of the political discourse. on Thursday at Pearson Centre in 1991. The Hill Times file photograph by Kate Malloy release states, adding that the CAJ spent Megaphone politics, bumper sticker three years working on the survey and event slogans and tweets are the main forms of consulted the NLA for help. The deadline to Peter Mansbridge, former longtime an- political discourse. So, that’s in the United More locally, Lady Diana, also known respond is Friday, April 2, 2021. chor of CBC’s The National, will talk about States, but it’s in Canada too,” reads the as the Princess of Wales, toured Ontario in The lack of diversity in Canadian media his new book, Extraordinary Canadians: promo for this discussion. 1991 with the Prince of Wales and their two became a big issue earlier this year after Stories from the Heart of Our Nation, sons, William and Harry. They made stops George Floyd, a Black man, was killed on Thursday, Dec. 9, with the Pearson in Toronto, Sudbury, Kingston, Niagara on May 25, 2020, by a white police officer Centre’s Andrew Cardozo, who also writes Empire Club hosts second Falls, and Ottawa, pictured here in Octo- in Minneapolis after pressed his knee on a column for The Hill Times. The virtual ber 1991. The Princess of Wales became a Floyd’s neck on the ground for almost nine event will happen at 12-12:30 p.m. Last annual Nation Builder of the global icon for her royal duties on behalf minutes. A bystander captured the whole week, Extraordinary Canadians was on Year Award of the Queen, her work for children, youth, scene on video, which happened in broad Postmedia’s top 30 best-sellers of the week The Empire Club will give this year’s AIDS patients, the removal of landmines daylight and while other police officers and at No. 2 for non-fiction, right behind Nation Builder of the Year Award to Can- and for her style before she was killed on stood by and watched. The video went Barack Obama‘s A Promised Land. Mr. ada’s front-line workers who will receive Aug. 31, 1997, in a car crash in Paris. She viral globally and Floyd’s death sparked Mansbridge wrote the book with Mark the award for keeping Canadians safe continues to be a compelling figure today. international protests against anti-Black Bulgutch, a former CBC producer. Mr. during the COVID-19 pandemic. House [email protected] racism, police brutality, and all racism. It Mansbridge also wrote Peter Mansbridge Speaker Anthony Rota, Canada’s Chief The Hill Times OPEN LETTER to Treasury Board from women leaders Funding for new nuclear reactors is a serious mistake that blocks swift action on climate change

Dear Mr. Duclos and Members of the Treasury Board: More funding for energy efficiency and energy conservation would also be a On September 21, 2020 we wrote to you as women who are Indigenous and non- much better use of tax dollars than handouts to the nuclear industry. The 2018 Indigenous community leaders in science, medicine, law and environmental protection to ask report presented by the Generation Energy Council to Canada’s Minister of Natural you to stop funding new nuclear reactors. Canada is a member of an international nuclear Resources found that: “Canada’s greatest opportunities to save money, cut waste treaty and has a legal obligation to minimize generation of radioactive waste. Federal greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs can be found in slashing energy waste. funding for new nuclear reactors would be an abnegation of this treaty obligation. Fully one-third of our Paris emissions commitment could be achieved by improving energy efficiency.” Today we are joined by women colleagues from all provinces and territories in Canada and several Indigenous communities. We strongly urge you to reject new We urge you to say “no” to the nuclear industry that is asking for billions of dollars nuclear reactors, called “SMRs.” They are being promoted to your government as a silver in taxpayer funds to subsidize a dangerous, highly-polluting and expensive technology bullet to address the climate emergency. This is a false notion. that we don’t need. Instead, put more money into renewables, energy efficiency and energy conservation. This will create many thousands of jobs and quickly reduce In fact, SMRs prevent swift, effective action to address the climate greenhouse gas emissions. emergency. SMRs are many years away from production. They would take far too long to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They suck money and attention away from We must never forget that the main product of nuclear reactors — in inexpensive low-carbon technologies that are ready to deploy now. terms of planetary impact — is deadly, radioactive poisons that remain hazardous to all life on earth for hundreds of thousands of years. The Solar and wind power are already the cheapest and fastest-growing electricity they produce for a few short decades is but a minor by-product. There is no electricity sources in the world. A 2018 Deloitte report, “Global Renewable Energy proven safe method for keeping radioactive waste out of the environment of living Trends: Solar and Wind Move from Mainstream to Preferred” concluded: “Solar and wind things for hundreds of thousands of years. power recently crossed a new threshold, moving from mainstream to preferred energy sources across much of the globe”. The report noted that solar and wind power enhance electrical We urge you to bring this matter to the attention of your Cabinet colleagues, grids. It also pointed out that intermittency is no longer a concern owing to rapid advances in and stop all government support and taxpayer funding for so-called small storage technology. Canada should fund much wider deployment of solar and wind power. modular nuclear reactors.

Yours sincerely, Alma H. Brooks, Wolastoqew and Eastern Wabanaki Carole Dupuis, Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC Jean Brereton, Golden Lake, ON Dr. Marianne Rev, MD, Vancouver, BC Chief April Adams-Phillips, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Carolyn Wagner, MEd, Fredericton, NB Dr. Jeannie Rosenberg, MD, Huntingdon, QC Marion Copleston, BA, BEd, PE Candyce Paul, English River First Nation Catherine Cameron, BSc, MBA, Perth ON Jessica Spencer, Moncton, NB Dr. Martha Ruben, MD, PhD, Ottawa, ON Ellen Gabriel, Mohawks of Kanehsatà:ke Dr. Cathy Vakil, MD, Kingston, ON Joann McCann-Magill, MA, Sheenboro, QC Martine Chatelain, Montréal, QC Eriel Deranger, Member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Dr. Cecily Mills, PhD, Edmonton, AB Joanne Mantha, MA, Gatineau, QC Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, MD, PhD, Victoria, BC Nation, Treaty 8 Chantal Levert, Montréal, QC Jocelyne Lachapelle, Framton, QC Dr. Meg Sears, PhD, Dunrobin, ON Hilu Tagoona, BA, Qairnimiut Inuk Dr. Charlotte Rigby, PhD, Gatineau, QC Johanna Echlin, MEd, Westmount, QC Megan McCann, RMT, Fredericton, NB Dr. Imelda Perley Opolahsomuwehs, Neqotkuk First Nation Chris Cavan, BEd, Almonte, ON Julie Reimer, MMM, Kingston, ON Megan Mitton, MLA, Sackville, NB Lorraine Rekmans, Serpent River First Nation Diane Fortin, Gatineau, QC Dr. Judith Miller, PhD, Ottawa, ON Dr. Melissa Lem, MD, Vancouver, BC Dr. Lynn Gehl, PhD, Algonquin - Pikwakanagan First Nation Dr. Dale Dewar, MD, Wynyard, SK Kathrin Winkler, BA, Halifax, NS Meredith Brown, BSc, MRM, Wakefield, QC Mary Alice Smith, BA, Metis Cree, Robinson-Superior Dr. Darlene Hammell, MD, Victoria, BC Dr. Kathryn Lindsay, PhD, Renfrew, ON Michele Kaulbach, Westmount, QC Treaty area, Longbow Lake Deborah Powell, BA, BEd, Bristol, QC Kay Rogers, BA, MA, MSc, Perth, ON Nadia Alexan, Montréal, QC Mary Lou Smoke, Anishinawbe Kwe, Bear Clan Diane Beckett, BES, MA, Churchill, MB Kerrie Blaise, MSc, JD, North Bay, ON Dr. Nancy Covington, MD, Halifax, NS Neecha Dupuis, Ojibway Nation of SAUGEEN Indian Tribe No. 258 Dr. Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, PhD, Toronto, ON Kim Reeder, MEM, Saint Andrews, NB Nira Dookeran, MA, Ottawa, ON Renee Abram, Oneida First Nation of the Thames Elizabeth Logue, Wakefield, QC Dr. Kringen Henein, PhD, Ottawa ON Odette Sarrazin, St-Gabriel-de-Brandon, QC Serena Kenny, Lac Seul First Nation Elssa Martinez, MSW, Montreal, QC Larissa Holman, BSc, MREM, Gatineau, QC Dr. Paula Tippett, BSc, MD, MPH, Saint John, NB Stefanie Bryant, BA, Lac Seul First Nation Emma March, MA, JD candidate, Kingston, ON Dr. Laure Waridel, PhD, Order of Canada, Montréal, QC Pippa Feinstein, JD, LLM, Toronto, ON Alexandra Hayward, BSc, JD Candidate, St. John’s, NL Dr. Erica Frank, MD, MPH, FACPM, Nanoose Bay, BC Lenore Morris, BA, MBA, JD, Whitehorse, YT Dr. Rashmi Chadha, MBChB, MScCH, Vancouver, BC Angela Bischoff, Toronto, ON Eva Schacherl, MA, Ottawa, ON Liette Parent-Leduc, B.A.A., D. Fisc, Saint-Robert, QC Roberta Frampton Benefiel, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL Anna Tilman, BA Physics, MA, Aurora, ON Evelyn Gigantes, BA, former MPP, Ottawa, ON Lisa Aitken, MEd, HRM, Winnipeg, MB Roma De Robertis, MA, Saint John, NB Ann Coxworth, MSc, Saskatoon, SK Gail Wylie, Fredericton, NB Dr. Louise Comeau, PhD, Keswick Ridge, NB Dr. Sarah Colwell, BSc, MD, FRCPC, Moncton, NB Ann Pohl, MEd, Killaloe, ON Gini Dickie, BA, Toronto, ON Louise Morand, l’Assomption, QC Dr. Silvia Schriever, MD, Victoria, BC Anne Lindsey, Order of Manitoba, MA, Winnipeg, MB Gracia Janes, OMC, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Dr. Louise Vandelac, PhD, Montreal, QC Dr. Susan O’Donnell, PhD, Fredericton, NB Dr. Auréa Cormier, PhD, Order of Canada, Moncton, NB Ginette Charbonneau, Physicist, Oka, QC Lorraine Hewlett, BA, MA, BEd, Yellowknife, NT Dr. Sylvia Hale, PhD, Fredericton, NB Dr. Barbara Birkett, MDCM, FRCPC, Oakville, ON Gretchen Fitzgerald, BSc, Halifax, NS Lucie Massé, Oka, QC Sylvia Oljemark, Montréal , QC Beatrice Olivastri, Ottawa, ON Janet Graham, MA, Ottawa, ON Dr. Lucie Sauvé, PhD, Montréal, QC Theresa McClenaghan, BSc, LL.B., LL.M., Paris, ON Betty L. E. Wilcox, BA, BEd, Stanhope, PE Dr. Janet Ray, MD, Victoria, BC Lynn Jones, MHSc, Ottawa, ON Valerie Needham, MA, Ottawa, ON Brenda Brochu, BA, BEd, Peace River, AB Dr. Janice Harvey, PhD, Fredericton, NB Margo Sheppard, BES, Fredericton, NB Venetia Crawford, BA, Shawville, QC Brennain Lloyd, North Bay, ON Jean Swanson, Order of Canada, BA, Vancouver, BC Maria Varvarikos, BA, MLS, NDG, Montreal, QC Willi Nolan-Campbell, NB 4 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News Vaccine briefings could help manage public expectations around pace of rollout, say experts

to approve it within a week or so, Prime The broader public according to CBC. Minister Conservative Leader Erin Justin might not recall every O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) tabled a Trudeau holds motion earlier this week call- separate detail shared, but ing on the government to give a briefings offering granular, “status update” on the rollout, routinely including the date each vaccine at Rideau tangible details about candidate could be distributed Cottage at and whether there will be federal least twice a the logistics can guidance on priority groups, by week, while Dec. 16. public health be reassuring, says So far, the government hasn’t and military Dr. Alan Bernstein, offered precise timelines for officials are when it expects the first several tasked with who sits on the feds’ shipments of vaccine to land on breaking Canada’s shores. It’s projected down the COVID-19 Vaccine that some six million doses for logistical three million Canadians could be issues behind Task Force. received within the first quarter the vaccine of 2021, with the first package distribution. expected sometime in January. The Hill Times BY BEATRICE PAEZ Dr. Bernstein said communi- photograph by cating hard timelines would be Andrew Meade he Trudeau government’s akin to speculating, given that Tmove to start holding weekly much depends on how quickly briefings on the distribution of Pfizer and Moderna—whose can- vaccines against the novel coro- didates are furthest along in the supply, initially, is going to be fair ment, ‘Where am I in the priority of the public health emergen- navirus could dispel concerns regulatory process—can scale up and “guided by nothing more than list? And wherever that is, where cies; we need that goodwill to among the pandemic-weary pub- production of their vaccines, the what’s” in their best interest. do I go to get vaccinated?’ ” said continue.” lic about the pace of the rollout— first produced using novel mes- “The key is to make sure that Dr. Bernstein “If you compare Aside from ensuring they’re as long officials are upfront about senger RNA technology that are process is completely non-politi- that to voting day, we’re given all coordinating on the distribution, the knowns and unknowns, say on track to be approved. cized, that it’s exclusively driven kinds of detailed information. If the federal government also has political experts and scientists. Public health officials said the by the science, by the recommen- you want advanced voting, ‘Here’s to work with provinces to make Weekly briefings around the regulator has to ensure that qual- dations of the experts,” said Ms. what you do.’ ” sure there’s a record-keeping logistics, distribution, and alloca- ity of the vaccine doses destined Paul. “The entire vaccine produc- system in place to track who has tion of vaccines started in late for Canada is up to par. tion and distribution process has received a vaccine and when November. They feature offi- Green Party Leader Annamie to be completely non-political and they’re due for the second shot, cials involved in the design and Paul said the government should non-partisan.” said Dr. Alice Zwerling, assis- oversight of the process, includ- be upfront about the timelines Though Mr. Trudeau has tant professor at University of ing Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin, who it’s operating on, but cautioned resumed his own routine brief- Ottawa’s school of epidemiology runs point on the logistics, Health against “scoring” political points ings held separately at Rideau and public health. Canada’s Dr. Supriya Sharma, “on the back of this process.” Cottage, military and public With the stakes high in ensur- who, as chief medical adviser, health officials have been front ing people are protected against fields queries on the department’s and centre during the two weekly the coronavirus, and doses in regulatory process, and Dr. technical briefings that have been limited supply, Dr. Zwerling said, Howard Njoo, deputy chief public held to date. Those officials told there need to be good systems in health officer. reporters on Dec. 3 that provinces place to record data such as where Dr. Alan Bernstein, president have been told to mark Dec. 14 as shots were administered, the and CEO of CIFAR, Canadian- the date by which their sites have strain of vaccination, and to issue based global research organi- to be ready to receive the first alerts to schedule a follow-up ap- zation, said the broader public shipments. pointment for the second dose. might not recall every figure In anticipation that vaccines “Organization will be the key shared, but offering granular, tan- could be ready for release in the to reducing wastage,” she said, gible details about the logistics first few months of 2021, military noting that studies have broadly can be reassuring. personnel have been embedded Dr. Supriya Sharma fields questions shown that immunization cam- He pointed to how Procure- within the Public Heath Agency on the regulatory process unfolding paigns can see wastage of up to ment Minister Anita Anand of Canada since late spring, at Health Canada, where four 20 per cent. For example, there (Oakville, Ont.) noted in an ear- plotting out potential hurdles in vaccine candidates are under review. can be short window between lier briefing that Ottawa procured transporting the vaccines in a Photograph courtesy of Public Health when a vaccine has to be admin- 126 cold and ultracold freezers to Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin is managing country as geographically large Agency of Canada’s Twitter profile istered after it’s been diluted in store vaccine doses on order from the logistical process of ensuring and diverse as Canada. anticipation of its use. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, vaccines are transported securely Dr. Bernstein said while much Alberta said it plans to reserve Dr. Bernstein agreed. “We the two leading candidates. “She across a country as geographically hinges on the federal government’s its first shots for seniors and want to make sure that people had a specific number, which diverse as Canada. Military personnel ability to ensure the alloted ship- front-line health care workers on actually get the full course of made it sound more real to me,” are embedded within the Public ments of vaccine doses and ancil- duty at ICUs, units reserved for treatment of dosage, so that said Dr. Bernstein, who sits on Health Agency of Canada for the lary materials like syringes and COVID cases, and crowded hospi- they’re fully protected,” he said. the feds’ COVID-19 Vaccine Task rollout. Photograph courtesy of dry ice arrive on time, many other tals, according to CTV. “ It should be a harmonized one Force, which advised the govern- Department of National Defence logistical questions fall on the Jackie Choquette, vice-pres- across the provinces, because ment in assembling its portfolio provinces to answer since health ident with Crestview Strategy, we need to collect that data as of seven candidates. “The way the question [around care falls under their jurisdiction. said the federal government is quickly as possible.” The Trudeau Liberals have timelines] has been answered at It’s ultimately up to the prov- “walking a tightrope,” politically, Setting up that type of system been on the defensive in recent Question Period, it provokes more inces to set their priority list, with in trying to build public confi- in Canada will be easier than in weeks following Prime Minister questions. … It’s a simple ques- the expectation that the guide- dence in the process, even as its the United States, where health Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) tion to answer whether we know lines recommended by the feds hands might be tied on issues care is largely privatized, he add- remarks suggesting Canada likely when we can reasonably expect will be used to help inform those falling under the provinces’ ed. Over time, those records could won’t be first in line to adminis- the first doses of the vaccine to decisions. Ottawa, for its part, purview. “The role of Health also help determine and identify ter the two-dose shots and could arrive in Canada,” said Ms. Paul in turned to an expert committee for Canada is to ensure that Cana- which strain of the seven vaccines see other countries—namely, an interview with The Hill Times. advice on that list, which released dians receive the same level of Canada has ordered, could be the United States, Britain, and “If they know, they should say its preliminary recommendations care no matter where you are in more effective for certain demo- France—start a few weeks earlier. what the approximate date is, and last month. the province, but ultimately, the graphics. On Dec. 2, the United Kingdom if they don’t, they should just say Canada’s Chief Public Health federal government will need to “We may not know from initial became the first country in the that. Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said work with the provincial govern- vaccines, but we can follow peo- world to give Pfizer’s vaccine the Beyond those key details, Ms. Health Canada is in the midst of ments,” she said. “Throughout the ple,” he said. “It’s really important green light. The United States Paul said the public needs to be finalizing its guidance. pandemic, premiers have been for the world to know that.” plans to make a decision Dec. 10, reassured that the system for “I live in Ontario, so I’d like to pretty good at putting politics [email protected] while Canada could be on track what’s expected to be a limited know from my provincial govern- aside and getting to the business The Hill Times CN wants to build a world‑class, environmentally advanced intermodal facility — in Milton, Ontario

The proposed shovel‑ready, privately‑funded Shipping by rail is four times more fuel‑efficient CN Milton Logistics Hub would support than trucking alone. A single intermodal Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID‑19 train removes approximately 300 long‑haul pandemic, while benefiting the environment. trucks from our clogged highways. Since it would receive four trains daily, the The purpose‑designed Hub would be a Milton Hub would in effect remove more than world‑class, environmentally advanced 400,000 long‑haul diesel trucks annually intermodal facility, with leading edge from Ontario roadways, significantly reducing technology at every stage, and served by greenhouse gas and other air emissions. Canadian‑made, electric, zero‑emission trucks.

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Milton_Ad_Hill_Times_12_03.indd 1 12/3/2020 5:21:58 PM 6 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

community services,” said the report, which called Canada “an ‘Nobody can afford it’: long- international outlier in spending much more on institutional care of seniors than on home care.” Bringing Canada’s long-term care system up to par—for ex- term care costs to soar in ample, by increasing the ratio of long-term care workers to seniors in the country from 3.5 per 100 to the OECD average of 8.2 per 100—would raise the cost of long- coming decades, says report term care by about 66 per cent, even before accounting for the growth of the senior population, according to the report. Taking measures to stave off by ex-federal Finance Canada frailty and dementia, the two major reasons that seniors are put into those homes, would cut costs and improve the quality of official Don Drummond life for those seniors, said Mr. Drummond.

Finance Minister Canada’s population by the year The newly-promised Chrystia Freeland's 2041, up from roughly 17.5 per fall economic cent now—an increase of more federal cash for long- statement promised than four million people— ac- more than $1-billion cording to the Queen’s University term care won’t solve to shore up some study, which included an analysis the problem, says of the numerous of data collected by Statistics deficiencies in Canada. the finance adviser- Canada's long-term Ontario Premier Doug Ford care system. The promised in 2018 to build space turned-Queen’s cost of caring for for 15,000 new long-term care elderly Canadians beds within five years, though University professor. is going to rise he amended that figure to 8,000 dramatically in the in July. However, even creating BY PETER MAZEREEUW coming decades if the full 15,000 new beds wouldn’t broader changes be enough to meet the current Rebekah Bergen helped to author he cost of funding Canada’s aren't made by demand for beds, let alone the the Ageing Well report before she Tlong-term care homes are on governments much higher demand by 2041, graduated from Queen’s University. track to more than double by 2041 and healthcare said the report, which estimated She now works at Finance Canada. as Canada’s elderly population providers, says a that Canada would have to nearly Photograph courtesy of Linkedin grows and much-needed improve- new report from double the number of total long- ments are made in the wake of Queen's University term care beds in the country by The average stay in a long- the COVID-19 pandemic, says a The Hill Times that date—an increase of roughly term care home is two and a report by a collection of Queen’s photograph by 250,000—if governments don’t half years, so keeping elderly University professors including Andrew Meade change the way the elderly are people well enough to live in their former senior federal government cared for. own homes for even a few extra finance adviser Don Drummond. the point that seems to get ig- “Nobody can afford it—in- months, on average, could reduce The federal government’s “cur- nored.” dividuals, families, nor govern- the demand for long-term care rent restrictive funding formula If Canada’s governments, ments—and few want to be in beds significantly, he said. for the Canada Health Transfer hospitals, doctors, and other LTC-homes in the first place,” says “Each month is huge.” is going to squeeze provinces as institutions don’t start doing more the report. Promoting physical activity they struggle to deal with their to keep seniors out of long-term The COVID-19 pandemic has can ward off frailty, while treating ageing populations,” said the care homes more often, the cost further exposed longstanding hearing impairment can slow the report, which is titled Ageing Well of running those homes could problems with care in many of progression towards dementia, and was released on Nov. 27. grow substantially by 2041, the Canada’s long-term care homes the report found. Shoring up The report was written by report predicted: from 1.3 per for elderly people, particularly in home care and community care two professors and one graduate cent of Canada’s GDP now, to 2.1 Ontario and Quebec. Residents of would also help keep people out student at Queen’s University’s per cent after needed improve- long-term care homes accounted of more expensive long-term care School of Public Policy, includ- ments to bring those homes up for roughly 80 per cent of the homes and hospital beds. ing Don Drummond, a former to adequate standards have been total number of people killed Long-term care is “on every- associate deputy minister in made, and then to 4.2 per cent as in Canada by the first wave of body’s mind right now,” said Mr. charge of economic and fiscal the demand for long-term care COVID-19, according to the Chief Drummond, as the pandemic analysis at Finance Canada, and beds doubles with the growth of Public Health Officer’s annual Duncan Sinclair has held numerous has continued to spread into and chief economist for TD Bank; the elderly population. That would report. The virus has continued high-profile academic and advisory through long-term care homes Duncan Sinclair, who has held a cost billions. to spread through long-term care posts in the health policy sector. across the country. numerous academic and public homes during the second wave Photograph courtesy of Queen’s University “Maybe while we’re tackling advisory positions in the health that is currently gripping Canada, the crisis that we’re in the midst policy world, including as Chair according to multiple media “…[T]he problem is a paucity of now, maybe it’s time to think a of Ontario’s Health Services reports. of alternatives from which seniors little more broadly and go beyond Restructuring Commission; and A report by Canada’s mili- can choose, coupled with chronic that,” he said. Rebekah Bergen, who graduated tary in May revealed troubling underfunding of preferred alter- [email protected] from Queen’s and began working problems in five Ontario long- natives such as home care and The Hill Times at Finance Canada this summer. term care homes into which The more than $1-billion armed forces medical personnel promised for long-term care in had been called to help care for Promised action for the long-term care Finance Minister Chrystia Free- ailing residents. Those included land’s (University-Rosedale, Ont.) staff who were poorly trained sector in the federal government’s 2020 Nov. 30 fall economic statement and overworked, unable to ac- may help to improve conditions in cess personal protective equip- fall economic statement Canada’s long-term care homes ment or some supplies needed now, but it would not address the for the care of residents, and Source: fall economic statement demographic “tsunami” that is who were sometimes abusive to • Up to $1-billion for a Safe Long-term Care Fund, to help provinces and territories protect people in threatening to swamp the long- residents. long-term care and support infection prevention and control. term care system in the coming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau • $6.4-million over two years, starting in 2020-21, to the Canadian Foundation for Health Improvement decades, Mr. Drummond said in (Papineau, Que.) and Canada’s to expand its LTC+ initiative, which allows long-term care facilities and seniors residences to register an interview. premiers discussed setting nation- via an online portal and submit a self-assessment, making them eligible for coaching and seed funding “It doesn’t address the funda- wide minimum standards of care to help address gaps. mental issue,” he said. Don Drummond is a former associate for long-term care homes during • $1-million to engage with third parties to help identify resources to conduct readiness assessments in “The first way to make long- deputy minister at Finance Canada a conference call in October. long-term care facilities and facilitate training on infection prevention and control. term care safer is to have fewer and chief economist for TD Bank. Senior citizens are expected • $2.4-million over three years to expand Health Canada’s capacity to support these new initiatives. people in long-term care. That’s Photograph courtesy of Queen’s University to make up nearly 25 per cent of THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 7 Opinion

this type of infrastructure will help improve access to and support for education and train- Investments in education and ing in communities across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has also cre- ated additional demand for digital infra- structure, as a way to ensure the continuity and access of training. Several institutions training infrastructure critical have developed virtual labs replicating the classroom experience, enabling access to the equipment, software and other technol- ogies needed to complete course work. to Canada’s long-term recovery Preparing Canada’s workforce and promoting a culture of lifelong learning increasingly requires a combination of College—Ontario’s first mass-timber, low-car- All Canadians need to benefit from and physical and digital spaces. Now is a time Preparing Canada’s workforce bon institutional building—stand to provide be included in our immediate response and for big ideas and innovative solutions. a unique learning environment to students, long-term recovery. Investments in education Investments in our education and train- and promoting a culture of unlock community space for the surrounding and training spaces that consider all learners— ing infrastructure will perform a necessary lifelong learning increasingly neighbourhood and contribute to Canada’s both in a digital and physical learning environ- triple duty—spur job creation, contribute to climate change commitments. ment—are critical to enabling labour market climate resilience and support an inclusive requires a combination of Preparing for a green future also re- resilience and promoting inclusive growth. talent pipeline along the way. As we pull our quires investments in research infrastruc- Spaces like the Mamidosewin Centre in way out of this pandemic, investing in post- physical and digital spaces. ture that contribute to sectors like forestry, Ottawa and the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre in secondary infrastructure will no doubt be fisheries, wildlife and conservation—those Edmonton provide a variety of programs and an important part of Canada’s long-term re- Now is a time for big ideas critical for driving Canada’s climate and services that are respectful and reflective of covery. These investments will also help us sustainability agenda. These facilities also Indigenous cultures. They serve as community respond to disruptions with more speed and and innovative solutions. serve as an important resource for busi- gathering places where Indigenous and non- resilience—both now and into the future. nesses, helping them rethink their process- Indigenous students can network, study and Matt Henderson is senior policy analyst es, products and environmental impact. share their learning experiences. Investing in at Polytechnics Canada.

ADVERTISEMENT The 4th meeting of Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council (KCBC) opens up new Matt Henderson Opinion potential for economic cooperation

Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of highlighted that KCBC has become an effective s Canada begins to build back better, Ainvestments that achieve multiple ben- Kazakhstan to Canada platform for bilateral projects’ implementation efits stand to expedite recovery and amplify between two countries’ business communities. impact. Just as the United States once did azakhstan and Canada have been T.Gitzel also shared recent meeting’s results with its New Deal to respond to the Great enjoying productive and dynamic of the Foreign Investors Council under the Depression, a key ingredient to Canada’s relations since establishment of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in long-term recovery will undoubtedly be diplomatic relations in 1992. Nur- which he has been a member for the last 10 infrastructure investment and development. Sultan and Ottawa have built a years. He stressed that the KCBC meeting’s In a recent speech to the Canadian Club high-levelK partnership in political sphere which agenda is fully consistent with Kazakhstan’s of Toronto, Infrastructure and Communities marked by successful economic cooperation. priorities on country’s integration into Minister Catherine McKenna pointed out Our bilateral trade and investment statistics global economy under President K.Tokayev’s that every tax dollar invested in new in- deserves a positive assessment. Canada is now leadership, including in areas of digitalization, frastructure needs to perform a triple duty ranked amongst the Top-15 of the largest artificial intelligence, energy, natural resources, beyond the infrastructure itself—growing agriculture and in other areas. the economy, combatting climate change investment partners of Kazakhstan. Since 2005 and promoting social equality. Canadian companies invested to Kazakhstan In general, the experts highlighted a strong Focused, targeted investments in Cana- more than 6.3 billion CAD. In 2019 bilateral interest in further strengthening bilateral da’s post-secondary education infrastructure trade turnover doubled and totaled 620 economic cooperation between Kazakhstan are one critical way to achieve these multiple million CAD. More than 170 enterprises with and Canada. In their opinion, the meetings held objectives while strengthening our pandemic the participation of Canadian companies are within Business Council’s framework opened response and labour market resilience. We operating in Kazakhstan. Today Kazakhstan is up new prospects for business interaction in the need to bolster our education and training Canada’s largest trade and investment partner post-pandemic period. Following the KCBC’s infrastructure, including things like new in Central Asia. These are good indicators, but 4th meeting its participants agreed to adopt buildings, retrofits, digital learning infra- far from the limit of our capabilities. a Roadmap for implementation of achieved structure and research infrastructure to help November of 2020 was dedicated to arrangements. our economy become robust and resilient. intense discussions between our governments, In conclusion, I urge to expand and intensify Despite a slight increase in employment in October, the overall health of Canada’s business communities and associations, a scope of our cooperation and work together experts, academia of Kazakhstan and virtual format, it was absolutely successful and to attract more small and medium enterprises, labour market remains a real concern. we clearly see its strong outcomes. Youth and Indigenous unemployment, Canada within 4th meeting of Kazakhstan- create more favorable conditions and open under- and precarious employment are just Canada Business Council (KCBC) entitled On behalf of the Government of Canada up new market opportunities and niches for a few worrying trends. The Liberal govern- “Post pandemic development of Kazakhstan the Honourable Jim Carr, the Prime Minister’s bilateral trade. I firmly believe that there is ment has responded by pledging to create and Canada cooperation: recovery and Special Representative for the Western Provinces promising potential for economic cooperation one million jobs, in part through direct development”. (Prairies) participated in KCBC Plenary Session. and our synergy will be instrumental in investments in infrastructure. Economic relations between our countries He positively described economic relations further developing bilateral relations between Investments on campus help to create are supported by regular dialogue at the between our countries, which are supported Kazakhstan and Canada in nearest future. thousands of middle-class jobs in sectors like political level and KCBC event was held to by regular dialogue at the political level and I am confident that Kazakhstan and Canada construction, engineering and manufactur- follow up a meeting between President of stressed that the meeting of President Tokayev will successfully overcome current economic ing, while the resulting infrastructure is used Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime with Prime Minister Trudeau in February 2020 crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic, enter the to train the next generation workforce. The Minister of Canada the Right Honourable consolidated mutual support for bilateral trajectory of stable growth and set the stage last federal infrastructure program targeted at relations development of on a wide range post-secondary institutions created 37,000 jobs Justin Trudeau in February 2020 at the for the further progressive development of Munich Security Conference margins. of issues. Mr. Jim Carr also welcomed the trade and economic relations. in communities across the country. Projects ongoing reforms in Kazakhstan, which, in his also offer experiential learning opportunities During November 2020 the Working opinion, stimulate economic growth, including for students and apprentices, critical during Groups’ five meetings were held in such areas sustainable development, green energy and a time when many placements are otherwise as agriculture, natural resources and energy, investment in human capital. being postponed or cancelled outright. construction and infrastructure, aerospace Combatting climate change is also a key and transport, health and education and two During the KCBC Plenary session, Canadian consideration for Canada’s long-term recov- days of Plenary session gathered together Co-Chair, CEO of Cameco Mr.Tim Gitzel, who ery and prosperity. At the intersection of skills over 700 participants. Despite the impact of was recently appointed as the Honorary Consul development and business innovation, invest- COVID-19 pandemic and that in this year of Kazakhstan in Saskatchewan noted Business ments on polytechnic campuses contribute KCBC events were conducted in all-new Council’s progress since its creation in 2016. He to clean, green and low-carbon communities. Buildings like The Arbour at George Brown 8 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

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Editorial Letters to the Editor Feds should shed more light on Centre Block’s massive renovation project Keep fitness facilities

t’s been nearly two years since Centre ground welcome centre. The department IBlock was closed for what’s now being says $119.6-million has been spent to date open safely during dubbed “the renovation of the century,” on Centre Block and says $4.5-billion and last week the federal government has been approved on the renovations offered the media a look inside to see of all the buildings in the Parliamentary what’s going on. Breathtaking is one Precinct. The Long Term Vision and Plan, COVID-19, urge doctors word for it. Our photographer Andrew which started in 2007, is the larger project Meade shot pictures of the work and The to give the Parliamentary Precinct much- Canadian Press’ Lee Berthiaume filed needed restoration and overall modern e, the undersigned medical doctors, every use, physical distancing, and mask- a very detailed pool report, thankfully, upgrades. Wwrite to convey the importance of wearing at all times except for during because this renovation is more than PSPC says so far, some 2.5 metric keeping fitness facilities open, safely and short, high-intensity workouts. There is significant. It’s gob-smacking, fall-down tonnes of asbestos-ridden materials have sustainably, throughout the COVID-19 little doubt that most gyms would eagerly huge. This should be a documentary film been removed from the building, and pandemic. Many months into this pan- follow any further guidelines that public and a book, maybe two books. 50,000 truckloads of bedrock will be dug demic, we now know that the presence health experts, such as ourselves, feel are Led by Public Services and Procure- out in front Centre Block from the front of lifestyle-associated chronic diseases necessary to continue safe operations. ment Canada, on any given day, there are of the building for the underground visi- strongly predicts morbidity and mortality Their continued operation is one of the 400 people on the Hill working on this tors’ welcome centre. The excavation was from COVID-19 infections. We recognize most important ways to fight against the renovation. This historic building will be started in the summer and is expected to that contact tracing currently has limita- effects of COVID-19. basically taken apart, strengthened and take two years. The new visitors centre tions in Ontario but recent data released We listen with rapt attention to our reinforced, updated, and put back together will have an integrated accessible entry by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advi- government, and we firmly urge that you again, piece by piece, for use during the to the Centre Block, West Block, and East sory Table states that gyms account for take this time to embrace and promote next 100 years and beyond. The scope of Block which will become one under- less than five per cent of all outbreaks in the use of exercise to prevent and de- the work is gigantic, which is why PSPC ground parliamentary complex. The Sen- “hot spots.” crease the effects of all diseases. We ask should be offering regular updates on ate side of Centre Block’s foundation was We believe that more collaboration for your help in supporting a collabora- what’s happening. This is the Canadian rubble foundation, so PSPC has poured from government and public health tive initiative between government, public people’s Parliament and the people have a a new foundation and put in steel rods to with fitness facilities is both crucial and health, and leaders in the fitness industry right to know what’s going on. hold it together. The next big project after feasible to allow safe and sustainable in order to keep these businesses operat- So far, PSPC says $655-million has the holidays is restoring the masonry, operations to continue throughout this ing safely, so that they can keep Ontar- been allocated for the renovation of which could take six years to finish. The pandemic. The blanket closure of all ians healthy. Ontario has the opportunity Centre Block and the construction of the House Chamber will eventually have to gyms in “hot spots” is an extreme measure to be a national and global leader in the underground visitors’ welcome centre, accommodate 450 MPs, so major adjust- which ignores the many protective factors fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but that figure is expected to rise signifi- ments will be made there. already in place in some facilities, fac- while building a foundation for incredible cantly over the next decade or so that it There’s not enough space on this page tors which could be increased to further positive health outcomes for generations will take to finish this job. PSPC says it to detail the work that will be done on mitigate potential spread. By taking into to come. will take “at least” 10 years to complete, Centre Block, one of the most important account incremental approaches to policy Dr. Elisabeth Drouin, but it could be longer. So that’s 2030 and buildings in Canada, and PSPC should be based on the physical realities of gym Family Medicine, Ottawa beyond. The $655-million allocated so far providing more regular updates on this operations, you would communicate the Dr. Claudia Hubbes, covers the costs for decommissioning massive project, not only to Parliament, profound importance you place on the Family Medicine, Ottawa the building, removing heritage artifacts, but to all Canadians who are paying for it health and well-being of the varied and Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, “initial” restoration work, demolition and who view this site as a symbol of our diverse communities you represent. ICU & Palliative Care, Ottawa work, removal of hazardous materials, democracy. The pandemic will be an issue for the Dr. Amer Johri, and excavation of the pit for the under- The Hill Times foreseeable future. Even if a vaccine is Cardiology, Kingston developed, we recognize it will take time Dr. Ang Li, to vaccinate the population. It is incum- Orthopedic Surgery, Ottawa bent on you as policymakers to evaluate Dr. Soraya Moghadam, and consider the impact and sustainabil- Nephrology, Ottawa ity in the event that there is long-term Dr. Scott Shallow, disruption to daily life. Any long-term Family & Sport Medicine, Kingston closure of gyms will, in our opinion, not Dr. David Simon, only lead to COVID-19 outbreaks becom- Orthopedic Surgery, Ottawa ing more deadly, but will also increase Dr. Leigh Waters, the incidence of almost all of the other Family/Obesity Medicine, Ottawa leading causes of mortality (cancer, type Dr. Christopher Williams, 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Al- Emergency Medicine, Brockville zheimer’s disease) in Canada for years to Dr. Janet Barber, come. Without the support that exercise PGY-3 Sports Medicine, Ottawa facilities provide the community, Canada Dr. Meghan Bhatia, will see a significant and unnecessary PGY-3 Emergency Medicine, Sudbury increase in lifestyle-preventable diseases Dr. Jennifer Crichton, post-COVID-19 pandemic. PGY-2 Family Medicine, Ottawa The facilities we have observed have Dr. Natalie Daly, risen to the call to put in place extraordi- PGY-3 Physical Medicine & nary—but necessary—measures to keep Rehabilitation, Toronto their members safe, including pre-class Dr. Amy Jiang, registration and a COVID-19 screening PGY-3 Anesthesiology, Kingston questionnaire, caps on class attendance, Dr. Richard Walker, regular sanitization of equipment after PGY-3 General Surgery, Toronto

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to sidestep the question when Conservative MP tive caucus. He made it clear The anti-gay and asked about it during a presser on Derek Sloan, immediately after his leadership the government’s handling of the pictured on that he was not going to follow anti-choice views vaccine. On this one, O’Toole is Oct. 21, 2020, the lead of Andrew Scheer and making a deadly mistake. on the Hill. turn his back on the gay com- that formed the basis While he and his party were Last week, he munity. of his campaign for starting to develop some media went from the But with colleagues who have traction in the attacks on govern- ridiculous to no problem doing that, O’Toole’s the Conservative ment pandemic strategies, the the delirious, brand is damaged when he does Sloan petition has the effect of sponsoring a nothing about them. leadership were bad throwing all that under the bus. parliamentary Thus far, the Conservatives It makes a number of egre- petition that have not made much political hay enough. giously false claims including the discourages out of the COVID challenge. Even fact that “no coronavirus vaccine Canadians from with government missteps, the has ever been approved because vaccinating Tories have been kept off balance of serious adverse effects, includ- themselves by bizarre claims from Sloan ing death to test animals, due to against the worst that question mask-wearing and pathogenic priming; COVID vac- public health accuse public servants of being in cines are not designed to prevent scourge in a cahoots with the Chinese govern- infection or transmission and century. The Hill ment. bypassing proper safety protocols Times photograph Those statements were beyond means COVID-19 vaccination is by Andrew Meade bizarre but last week’s anti-vacci- effectively human experimenta- nation rant makes Sloan’s previ- tion.” ous missteps pale in comparison. Sheila Copps This is not the first time Sloan If there is one way that we Copps’ Corner has put his foot in the wrong are going to be able to end this place. Who can forget his claim collective, global nightmare, it is that Dr. Theresa Tam was a Chi- by massive immunization with a TTAWA—Derek Sloan should nese agent, a statement for which vaccine that can protect the globe Obe tossed from the Conserva- he did apologize? He has not from this deadly virus. tive caucus. apologized for opposing federal cination claims, suggesting they the $25-billion COVID-fighting The opposition has every right The anti-gay and anti-choice legislation to end conversion were untrue and designed to have investment announced by Finance to question the government on views that formed the basis of his therapy. Sloan stands with those an influence on the election result. Minister Chrystia Freeland last vaccine availability and rollout, campaign for the Conservative groups that claim they can stamp But here in Canada, O’Toole week, the Tories could be facing and the federal/provincial coop- leadership were bad enough. out homosexual urges through runs the risk of losing the public the electorate sooner rather than eration that has characterized the Last week, he went from the shaming and bullying. completely by refusing to stop later. last nine months could be shat- ridiculous to the delirious, spon- O’Toole is refusing to silence Sloan from peddling his false and That means a clear, coherent tered in the fight for vaccinations. soring a parliamentary petition Sloan and by not doing so, he will dangerous claims. strategy on the main issue of the Under normal circumstances, that discourages Canadians from alienate the majority of the think- It looks as though the Conser- day should not be muddied by that tension should provide a real vaccinating themselves against ing population. vatives are backing themselves caucus members with mixed mes- opening for a reasoned, competent the worst public health scourge in How can the Conservative into the same corner that cost saging. Kicking Sloan out would Opposition leader to show how his a century. leader convince Canadians to them the last election. mean a couple of days of internal- party could offer something better. Sloan actually went so far as vaccinate themselves when his Their refusal to shake off the ly negative headlines, but it would But when O’Toole refuses to to claim that the vaccination was own colleague is leading the extremists in their caucus and clear the way for an election that fire a team member who is a de- human experimentation and with- warped world of online anti- party are going to do them griev- would not be affected by mixed lirious anti-vaxxer, all leadership in hours of its announcement, his vaxxers? ous harm when most Canadians Tory messaging. claims ring hollow. petition had gathered more than Before the recent American are looking for leadership on pan- O’Toole has struggled to Sheila Copps is a former Jean 22,000 signatures. Even more presidential vote, social media demic issues. place himself in the moderate Chrétien-era cabinet minister and frightening was the decision by websites like Instagram and Twit- With the government launch- middle when it comes to social a former deputy prime minister. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole ter actually blocked false anti-vac- ing another confidence vote on issues facing his very conserva- The Hill Times

Making matters worse, social media has a tendency to create Polarization in Canada, real or not? the perception that the other side is more extreme than it re- days about how our society is indeed occurring in Canada, but More specifically he argues it’s ally is. When leaders act in becoming divided along stark not to the same degree as is hap- our “elites” (political party lead- Hence, progressives on so- ideological lines is nothing but pening in America. ers, other prominent politicians, cial media tend to perceive all a polarizing manner, media hype or exaggeration. So why is it happening in media personalities) who are conservatives as racist, fascistic, So, always eager to get to the Canada? actually becoming more ideologi- gun-toting rednecks, while, for they will breed bottom of things, I recently “at- Well, part of it, argues Merk- cal and more partisan. their part, conservatives tend to tended” a Zoom conference put on ley is that Canadians are simply This matters because many perceive all progressives as elitist, polarization in the by the Institute for Liberal Stud- becoming more consistent in their people will look to opinion lead- immoral, communists. general population. ies, which featured Eric Merk- ideology. ers for their cues on how they But the good news is, despite ley, a postdoctoral fellow from What that means is right- should view the world, supporting these social-media-fuelled percep- the University of Toronto, who leaning Liberals are drifting to the opinions of leaders they like, tions, Merkley points out that discussed his extensive academic the Conservatives, while left- opposing the opinions of leaders while Canadians are becoming research on political polarization wing Conservatives are moving they don’t. more consistent ideologically and both here in Canada and in the towards the Liberals. So, when leaders act in a thus more divided along parti- United States. So basically, Canadians are polarizing manner, they will san lines, their opinions are not Surely, he would provide me sorting themselves out into more breed polarization in the general becoming more extreme. with answers. distinct ideological tribes, the up- population. That puts us in better shape Unfortunately, however, since shot of which is that the Liberal For instance, Merkley noted than the United States, where Merkley is an expert in “quantita- Party is becoming more and more how, after U.S. President Donald polarizing ideological beliefs on tive political science,” his discus- left-wing, the Conservative Party, Trump slammed NFL players for both the left and right are very sion was peppered with phrases more and more right-wing. kneeling during the American much more intense. Gerry Nicholls like “bi-modal coefficients” and The natural result of this grow- national anthem, polls showed Part of the reason for this, says “latent factor analysis,” meaning ing ideological divergence between that Republicans began to view Merkley, is that American ideo- Post Partisan Pundit a lot of it went over my non-aca- the two parties is polarization. the league much less favourably, logical polarization is reinforced demic head. On the other hand, however, while Democrats viewed it much by factors such as race, religion AKVILLE, ONT.—When it Yet, I still managed to glean Merkley’s research also shows more favourably. and culture. Ocomes to politics, we Cana- some interesting tidbits of infor- there’s an increasing affinity At any rate, as we become more So, polarization in Canada is dians are becoming increasingly mation from his talk, which I’d between Liberals and New Demo- divided over ideology, it leads to real, but it’s not reached alarming polarized. like to share. crats. what Merkley calls, “affected polar- American-style levels. Or are we? First off, Merkley’s basic Another cause of political ization”—which, put into regular Gerry Nicholls is a communi- After all, maybe all the gloomy conclusion was that, based on his polarization in Canada according English, means political partisans cation consultant. warnings we’re hearing these analysis, political polarization is to Merkley is “elite opinion.” start to hate each other. The Hill Times 10 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Toppling Trudeau: be careful what you wish for

Instead two bills back in the days when The Conservatives of telling O’Toole didn’t like unions: Canadians “These bills were a direct continue to politicize what he attack on the rights of working thinks, people, and a deliberate at- everything at their Conservative tempt to weaken unions in their peril, from the Leader Erin struggle to improve the lives of O'Toole tells workers.” proposed 988 suicide them what he How shocking was Erin thinks might O’Toole’s new-found affection for hotline, to the win their unions and Canadian workers? votes, writes Walter Pamic heard the Conserva- COVID-19 vaccine Michael tive leader’s speech that day in To- Harris. The ronto, and wasn’t pleased. As board itself. Erin O’Toole’s Hill Times chair for Merit Canada, which partisanship goes photograph by advocates for open-shop, non- Andrew Meade union construction associations, hand-in-hand with this is what he had to say to The Globe and Mail about O’Toole’s an embarrassing support of anti-union legislation in the Harper government, and the insincerity. O’Toole leader’s sudden conversion: isn’t going to win over “I don’t think they’re compat- ible at all. It’s like speaking out of many voters with his both sides of your mouth.” The reality is that Erin O’Toole vintage performance hasn’t become a union man, or, for that matter, the leader of a com- of sucking and passionate and intelligent govern- ment-in-waiting. He is just another blowing on the issue politician who is more concerned of COVID-19. about figuring out how to win, knowing as he does that doing it Harper’s way no longer works. How telling it is that O’Toole has now essentially lifted the heart of Peter MacKay’s pitch from the recent Conservative leadership race, but not, please note, until the leadership was well over and he had won. MacKay said that the great job for the party was to make more room in the Tory tent. When Michael Harris he was vying for the votes of Harris ment over Ottawa’s latest fiscal the same Erin O’Toole who also Yet in a bizarre address to the fellow Harper Conservatives, update, freighted as it is with called for a crackdown on fraudu- Canadian Club and a peculiar La- O’Toole held fast to hard-right billions more in COVID-spending, lent CERB claims. bour Day video, O’Toole sounded Conservative values, Harper ALIFAX—You can suspend the Liberals could make an argu- O’Toole wants an increase in more like Jerry Diaz whipping up values. Though an Ontario MP, he Hthe law of averages, but you ment something like this: the health transfers to the provinces, the troops at a UNIFOR conven- even launched his campaign in can’t repeal it; if you play Russian government that has supported and in the next breath, complains tion, than a former cabinet-min- Alberta. Roulette long enough, there is Canadians throughout the pan- about the federal government’s ion of Stephen Harper. Back then, It was the formula to win at always a Big Bang. demic, and wanted to continue worsening bottom line as “red ink O’Toole was on the bandwagon of the party level. It snagged O’Toole And so it is with minority that support until a safe vaccine turns to dark crimson.” free-market capitalism and union the support of Alberta Premier governments who bring on confi- is syringe-ready, was stopped That is not a man of principle vilification. As leader, he is now Jason Kenney, now the least dence votes, and dare the official in its tracks by opponents who criticizing in good faith. That is waxing eloquent on the need for popular premier in Canada. To opposition to trigger an election. put partisan politics ahead of a garden-variety political oppor- higher wages for working people. the ambitious Erin O’Toole back Eventually, usually sooner than emergency assistance. That’s like tunist willing to turn anything at He even bemoaned the decline in those days, there was no such later, the government falls. stopping a fire-truck to issue a hand to his immediate advantage. of membership in private-sector thing as a stinking albatross. Which may be exactly what speeding ticket on its way to a Instead of telling Canadians what unions. That sound you hear is But now he is dealing with a Justin Trudeau wants—without burning house. he thinks, he tells them what he the buttons popping off Stephen far more diverse electorate than making it happen himself. The The Conservatives continue to thinks might win their votes. Harper’s shirt. the CPC’s True Believers. He is pandemic has changed political politicize everything at their peril, O’Toole is the leader who O’Toole voted for two of dealing with all of Canada. And reality in Canada. As long as CO- from the proposed 988 suicide wants a parliamentary commit- the worst anti-union pieces of that is a place where intelligence VID-19 rages across the country hotline, to the COVID-19 vaccine tee to investigate why one of the legislation his old boss could is respected, compassion is highly and around the world, as long as itself. Erin O’Toole’s partisan- federal government’s vaccine dream up back in the day. Bill valued, and groups like unions there is no readily available and ship goes hand-in-hand with an deals fell apart. He has apparent- C-525 pretended to be about have a serious say on who gets proven vaccine, any election will embarrassing insincerity. O’Toole ly forgotten that the time for post voting by secret ballot on mat- to be PM. Expect Erin O’Toole to be a one-issue affair: the pan- isn’t going to win over many vot- mortem is after the patient dies, ters touching the certification or take a giant step to the Centre, demic. Who answered the bell, ers with his vintage performance not while people are desperately decertification of a union: it was and maybe venture one toe left of who didn’t. of sucking and blowing on the trying to save him. really about making it harder to centre, in an attempt to boost his In that scenario, the Liberals issue of COVID-19. And beneath all that is a much join a union. And then O’Toole popularity. likely win, and maybe even re- One moment, the Conserva- bigger problem for the newish Tory supported Bill C-377, requiring O’Toole, like Julius Caesar, claim their majority government. tive leader urges the Trudeau leader; a sincerity deficit. When he unions to open the kimono on is now trying to be “every man’s As Chrystia Freeland put it, it’s government to provide more was a member of the Harper gov- all transactions of $5,000 and woman, and every woman’s man.” better to spend more money than wage and rent subsidies, more ernment, O’Toole signed on to all greater. The Harperites said As for who he really is, it is less when it comes to matters of help for small businesses and the right-wing excesses, including union members loved the legis- anybody’s guess. life and death. workers, and asks that audits on the laughable Fair Elections Act lation. Here’s how Jerry Dias, Michael Harris is an award- If, for example, the united op- small businesses with dubious and the Zero Tolerance for Bar- the head of Canada’s largest winning author and journalist. position brings down the govern- CERB grants be “paused.” This is baric Practises Act. private sector Union, saw those The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 11 Opinion Can’t we agree to end torture?

Canada’s human cratic and human rights leader, how can Nearly 25 years later, rights record is far Canada demand other countries to respect from squeaky clean. human rights if we are unwilling to have Canada still has not ratified Residential schools, the external oversight over our own record? Kamagata Maru, Japanese Over the last 15 days, correctional law the Optional Protocol to the internment, a Chinese entities across the country have examined Convention Against Torture, head tax. Yet, in moments whether torture is occurring in Canadian of our history a positive prisons. Structured intervention units leaving us a pariah on the record on human rights isolate individuals for 22 hours a day, often has shone through. If we for more than 15 days straight—which international stage. Article want to be proud of the can amount to torture. Though I will let Canadian history that you reach your own conclusions, we have 2 of the UNCAT required we are presently writing, heard from academics, doctors, community countries to ban torture we need accede to the volunteers, family members, prisoners, UNOPCAT. If not, how can experts, lawyers, more lawyers, who have domestically. we ever demand the same resoundingly cried “yes.” of others? Photograph During our discussions it came out that courtesy of Pixabay Canada’s correctional investigator, the bureaucrat legislatively mandated to ensure Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, look inside our immigration detention human rights are not violated in our pris- leaving us a pariah on the international facilities and our experts theirs. ons, was chased out of Port-Cartier, Que., by stage. Canada refused. the police. He was also accused of risking Article 2 of the UNCAT required coun- To be illustriously clear, Bosnia and the lives of correctional officers for visiting tries to ban torture domestically. Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and South a prison in person during COVID despite Yet, often, as legislation goes, mere Sudan have all acceded to or ratified this his hazmat suit (yes, an actual hazmat suit). words on a page do not affect implementa- human rights treaty, as have most of our Canada’s human rights record is far tion. In undemocratic countries or undemo- closest allies: the U.K., Germany, France. from squeaky clean: for example residen- Murray Fallis cratic times, legislation may say one thing Perhaps more shocking still is that tial schools, the Kamagata Maru, Japanese Opinion while corruption and unfairness operation- Canada can sign and ratify this treaty with internment, a Chinese head tax. Yet, in alizes another. To respond to such circum- a reservation—which means that Canada moments of our history a positive record stances, the UNOPCAT was born. would accede to some of, but not all of, the on human rights has shone through. If we ONTREAL—In 1984, the United Na- Article 1 of the UNOPCAT implemented treaty. It’s like signing some of, but not all want to be proud of the Canadian history Mtions Convention Against Torture was a system of regular visits to a country, of, your mortgage, refusing the terms you that we are presently writing, we need ac- passed. Given the atrocities of the 20th cen- undertaken by independent national and don’t like. cede to the UNOPCAT. If not, how can we tury, the UNCAT sought to “recognize the international bodies to ensure torture is It is in this context, Canada needs to self- ever demand the same of others? equal and inalienable rights of all members absent. Simply, the UNOPCAT mandated reflect. In a world where the two Michaels Murray Fallis is an articling fellow with of the human family.” Nearly 25 years later, independent third-party oversight. If rati- are held overseas, external oversight of the John Howard Society of Canada. Canada still has not ratified the Optional fied, it meant Norweigan experts would human rights must be the norm. As a demo- The Hill Times

REBUILDING THE CANADIAN ECONOMY. Challenging times require a wise approach to tax policy. We have ideas.

cpacanada.ca/taxbriefing

20-1759 12 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion We need more details on feds’ ‘build-back-better’ plan

ORONTO—One part of the Finance Minister and The post-pandemic TTrudeau government’s fall Deputy Prime Minister economic statement was designed Chrystia Freeland, economy will be to reassure Canadians that sup- pictured Sept. 15, different from the pre- port programs for families and 2020, on the Hill. small businesses will continue Part of the fall pandemic economy. But to be there as long as the pan- economic statement demic lasts. Canadians will not was encouraging, the fiscal statement— be forced out of their homes and but the government's onto the streets and many small outline of how it plans aside from some businesses have some hope of its 'build-back-better' surviving the pandemic, despite promise, failed to generalities on green lockdowns. deliver on the future investments—gives That is all to the good and direction, structural one suspects, despite Conserva- changes we need for a little sense of future tive and NDP carping, that they stronger economy. The wouldn’t have done things much Hill Times photograph direction. differently. Canada is able to be by Andrew Meade more supportive than some other countries, and perhaps even a bit more than it needed to be, and this is because we had the fiscal room to do it. But the other part of the fall economic statement, an outline of how the Trudeau government plans its “build-back-better” promise, failed to deliver. The post-pandemic economy will be David Crane different from the pre-pandemic economy. But the fiscal state- Canada & the 21st Century

Continued on page 29

of the virus. We should continue that approach with the release of It’s time Canada had a national a vaccine. How would such a program be designed? We have previously created guidance for such a pro- vaccine injury compensation program gram to be established in Canada and there are many international available in the early new year munity should be supported by a But perhaps most importantly, examples we could model and If in the process appears realizable. It is an incred- national no-fault vaccine injury it’s simply the right thing to do. multiple jurisdictions which we ible story—a 15-year process of program that would provide a Vaccines are a public good and could emulate. of partaking in a vaccine development compressed straightforward path to compen- we should partake in these pro- Will creating a program to public good one is into a single year. sation. grams not only for our benefit but address rare injuries create undue Canada is an enviable posi- Notably, Canada is alone also for the benefit of others—in anxiety over vaccine safety? injured, they should tion—having purchased more among G7 nations in not having particular, the vulnerable. There is no evidence either way vaccines per capita than any other a vaccine injury compensation If in the process of partaking on their impact on vaccine hesi- be provided with just country. But there is a lingering program, although the province in a public good one is injured, tancy from the jurisdictions we gap in our vaccine policy. What of Quebec does have one. At least they should be provided with just have studied. compensation. happens in the very rare instance 25 jurisdictions around the world compensation. Will they be expensive? There that an individual should suffer an have such programs, including This brings us to the COV- is no evidence that run-away adverse event from the vaccine? countries such as Vietnam and ID-19 vaccine. A program is need- costs have overwhelmed any of COVID-19 vaccines will go Nepal. ed even more urgently for these the programs we have studied through the rigours of phase No-fault compensation vaccines. An initial target group precisely because vaccines are so three randomized clinical trial programs make sense for sev- will be front-line workers who safe. evaluations. They will have to eral reasons. First, as described, care for vulnerable populations. We are strong supporters of meet regulatory standards for there is typically “no-fault” when There will be an expectation, a vaccines and have confidence in safety and efficacy. But there is a someone experiences a rare ad- pressure, if not a requirement that their safety. It’s not too late for possibility that we will not detect verse event. Best practices are in they be vaccinated. It would be Canada to address this gap in extremely rare side-effects in place, the vaccine meets regula- unjust and antithetical to our cur- our vaccination policy, first for phase three trials. tory standards for safety and the rent ethos that these workers, if COVID-19 vaccines, and then Kumanan Wilson & Jennifer Keelan COVID-19 is far riskier for events are so rare that even if you in the rare instance they suffer a extended to all recommended Opinion some populations, yet we will are aware they exist, a reasonable possible adverse event, would be vaccines. need the majority of the public person would still proceed to be left on their own. Kumanan Wilson is a physi- to participate in vaccination if vaccinated. This problem will be further cian/scientist at the Ottawa fter almost a year of enduring our goal is to create herd im- Second, these programs also magnified as we extend the vac- Hospital and a member of the Athe pandemic and its enor- munity. However, there are real promote vaccine industry innova- cine roll-out to the broader popu- University of Ottawa Centre for mous health, economic and social ethical challenges in encouraging tion. In fact, a major reason for lation with the message to get Health Law, Policy and Ethics. toll, help may be on the way. everyone to be vaccinated without their introduction in the U.S. was vaccinated to protect yourself and Follow him on Twitter at @canim- The world has been encouraged providing any support for rare that fears and costs of litigation, others. We have provided finan- munize. Jennifer Keelan, PhD, by the promising early results adverse events that may occur as even if unsuccessful, had pushed cial compensation for individuals is the lead author of 2011 Munk from the Pfizer and Moderna a result. many pharmaceutical companies and businesses throughout the School briefing on no-fault vac- messenger mRNA vaccines. The People who sustain harm out of the vaccine manufacturing pandemic who have taken mea- cine injury compensations. possibility of a vaccine being while contributing to herd im- business, creating shortages. sures to help reduce the spread The Hill Times KENYA CELEBRATES ITS 57TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY. Kenya-Canada relations are stronger and brimming with the promise of an even brighter future.

his year, Kenya is marking its 57th anniversary (Jamhuri Day) since attaining independence on December 12th, 1963. I wish therefore to take this opportunity to convey this year’s TJamhuri Message of Goodwill to friends of Kenya in Canada, taking into account the extraordinary global health, economic and social challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is because of these challenges that this year, we are not able to celebrate our Jamhuri Day in the traditional manner of hosting a reception for our friends, partners and collaborators. The commemoration of Jamhuri Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the journey we have travelled as a nation. In this regard, I am pleased to note that we have registered remarkable progress in national development and our unity, within a diverse nation, remains ever stronger. In addition, over the past five decades, the livelihoods of our people have improved tremendously and we are on track to creating a competitive and equitable nation. Notable progress has also been registered in the provision of healthcare, education, infrastructural development and housing, among others. Today, Kenya is one of Africa’s leading economies and a hotbed of innovation and creativity. We are also one of the most attractive investment destinations globally, and our firms are among the largest investors in the Eastern and Central African sub-region. Sustained economic and business reforms over the last few years continue to enhance our nation’s competitiveness and ranking globally. We have recorded many milestones thus far, such as Kenya’s 80-slot improvement since 2014, with our nation currently ranking at 56th globally - and 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa - on the Ease-of- Doing Business Global Ranking Report, from a low of 136th globally in 2014. As an affirmation of our place of pride within the community of nations, Kenya now ranks 1st in Protecting Minority Investors and 4th globally on Accessing Credit. Consequently, the number of companies registered daily has increased by 500% from 30 in 2014 to 200 in 2020, and a daily average of 300 during the COVID-19 period. On aggregate, 400,000 companies are now registered annually in Kenya. As we continue to create an enabling environment for our enterprises to thrive, we are also enhancing connectivity in the country through and values of human rights, the rule of law and principles of free 2021-2022, Kenya will endeavour to voice and advance the shared ports, road and rail. market economy. They are also key players in international security and objectives, values and aspirations upon which our excellent bilateral significant contributors to peace-keeping missions around the world. relations have been, and continue to be, based. While remarkable progress has been registered in the areas I have enumerated above, we also acknowledge that our journey of In September 2018, desirous of strengthening the framework of their In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge the patriotism and collaboration transformation is incomplete and more remains to be done. It is for this co-operation, Kenya and Canada signed a Bi-National Commission of all Kenyans resident in Canada for their efforts aimed at promoting reason that H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta has identified four priority which institutionalized their regular consultations on areas of mutual Kenya’s image and interests. The Kenyan Diaspora in Canada has also areas of national development during his second term in office. These interest, including, but not limited to: Sustainable Blue Economy, served, and continues to serve, as a cultural bridge between our two are: enhancing food security, affordable housing, enhancing Women and Youth Empowerment, Trade and Investment, Multilateral peoples, significantly contributing to forging closer understanding manufacturing capacity and the provision of universal Cooperation and Regional Peace and Security. between Kenya and Canada. healthcare. To deliver on these four priority areas, the Government At the multilateral level, Kenya and Canada enjoy excellent co- During this COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyans is encouraging Public-Private Partnerships in undertaking some of the operation underpinned by a set of common values and a shared in Canada stood up to be counted amongst identified projects within these key areas. perspective about the future. As a demonstration of this commitment frontline workers providing critical services On the state of our bilateral relations with Canada, I am pleased to to working together at the international level, the two countries co- in the crucial fight against the pandemic. report that Kenya and Canada continue to enjoy the same warm and hosted the phenomenally successful High-Level Sustainable Blue In this connection, I wish to pay special cordial relations that have existed since 1963. Our relations have evolved Economy Conference in November 2018 in Nairobi. tribute to all the Kenyan nationals serving over the last five decades to stand where they are today - stronger as frontline workers in Canada, and I want Still on the multi-lateral front, Kenya wishes to express its profound and brimming with the promise of an even brighter future. – them to know that Kenya and Kenyans are gratitude to Canada, and all the other member states of the United not out of chance, but through well-thought-out and carefully calibrated proud of them all. Nations, for the gracious support and honour accorded to the Republic engagements between our two friendly countries of Kenya to serve as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a As members of the Commonwealth, our two countries share common Security Council for the period 2021-2022 (UNSC 2021-2022) in Prosperous, Happy New Year! values and heritage in the political, educational, cultural, economic, the elections held in June 2020 in New York. We wish to reassure Amb. John Lanyasunya, MBS legal and military spheres. Both are democracies, espousing ideals all our friends in Canada, that, through its membership in the UNSC HIGH COMMISSIONER 14 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

U.S. President tions would not be permitted even Donald Trump, in cases of severe foetal abnor- pictured Nov. 29, mality where the child would die 2020, with his immediately after birth. grandchildren Poland already had tight restric- Arabella, tions on abortion rights, but this Theodore and turned out to be the last straw. Mil- Joseph Kushner. lions of young people, and especial- The unbridled ly young women, filled the streets arrogance, the self- of Poland’s cities in the biggest anti- pity, the shameless, government demonstrations since hysterical the fall of Communism in 1989. “I exaggeration are wish I could abort my government,” all hallmarks of said one popular banner. the new breed The demos continued every of ‘illiberal’ day until a new lock-down was populists—and declared, and the PiS has now when they think backed down, postponing the they are losing, publication of the court’s deci- they always up sion indefinitely. But something the ante. I’m has definitely changed in Poland: thinking, of course, support for Kaczynski has now of President plunged to only 30 per cent. Trump’s recent electoral defeat and his subsequent behaviour, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of White House Flickr Reckless populists

József and will doubt- the ante. I’m thinking, of course, Then there’s President Jair Populist leaders Szájer. He’s less have to quit of Donald Trump’s recent elec- Bolsonaro, or ‘Tropical Trump,’ whose a senior Fidesz too. But toral defeat and his subsequent favoured candidates were thrashed across the West founding there’s a bigger behaviour. in all Brazil’s big cities in local seem to believe that member of story here. Could that extraordinary reck- elections last month. Photograph Hungary’s There was lessness be a communicable dis- courtesy of Commons Wikimedia somehow or other ruling another scandal ease? Could it somehow be spread- Fidesz in Hungary last ing to Trump’s acolytes overseas as Then there’s President Jair their fates are tied party. week, in which well? Well, consider Poland. Bolsonaro, or ‘Tropical Trump,’ Photograph Szilárd Demeter, The Catholic, ultra-conserva- whose favoured candidates were to Trump’s. It shows courtesy a senior cultural tive Law and Justice Party (PiS) thrashed in all Brazil’s big cities in the growing Commons official linked has been in power in Poland since in local elections last month, Wikimedia to Fidesz, wrote 2015, elected by the same older, and the United Kingdom’s Prime recklessness of their an opinion less well-educated, non-urban, Minister Boris Johnson, dubbed piece for a pro- deeply religious coalition that ‘Britain Trump’ by The Donald, behaviour, and in the government backs populist take-overs else- who is now trailing the opposition outlet comparing where. And as in other populist- leader in the polls for the first frequency of their Budapest-born ruled countries, there has been time ever. American bil- a steady erosion both in human It’s just straws in the wind failures. Does this lionaire George rights and in respect for demo- at this stage, but the defeat of mean they are all Soros, a Jew cratic norms. Trump, the populist standard- who fled the Ho- The PiS was re-elected just last bearer, is creating a sense in other destined to vanish in locaust, to Adolf year, and its leader, 71-year-old populist-ruled countries that the To be specific, 25 naked men Hitler. Jarosław Kaczynski, was widely juggernaut has stalled. his wake? Probably attending a loud party above a gay Demeter also called the Euro- supposed to have his finger on The effect hasn’t reached Asia bar in central Brussels is clearly pean Union “George Soros’s gas Poland’s pulse. But it all fell apart yet—Prime Minister Narendra not, but that would be against Belgium’s coronavirus laws, chamber,” and claimed that Hun- when a PiS-appointed court de- Modi in India and President which allow no more than four gary and Poland, the two Eastern clared in late October that abor- Rodrigo Duterte in the Philip- nice. people to meet indoors, so some- European EU pines are still riding very high in body called the police. At least three members with The PiS was the polls—but the main thing the of those arrested were Members of extreme right re-elected populists had going for them was the European Parliament (MEPs). populist govern- just last momentum, and in Western coun- It was particularly unfortunate ments, are “the year, and tries it seems to be dropping off. for József Szájer. He’s a senior new Jews” of Eu- its leader, Was there really a ‘coat-tail founding member of Hungary’s rope. It’s utterly 71-year-old effect’? Hard to say. After all, both ruling Fidesz party, an ultra- unhinged—and Jarosław the PiS in Poland and Fidesz in nationalist, populist, authoritar- yet it sounds Kaczynski, Hungary came to power before ian grouping that defends ‘family vaguely familiar. was widely Trump was elected in late 2016. But values’ and condemns homosexu- The unbri- supposed populist leaders across the West ality, but he was arrested while dled arrogance, to have his seem to believe that somehow or Gwynne Dyer fleeing that orgy (with ecstasy the self-pity, finger on other their fates are tied to Trump’s. Poland’s It shows in the growing reckless- Global Affairs pills in his backpack). Yet it’s hard the shameless, to feel much sympathy for him. hysterical exag- pulse. ness of their behaviour, and in the Szájer was a leading anti-gay geration are all Photograph frequency of their failures. ONDON, U.K.—“There is agitator in Fidesz, and boasts that he hallmarks of courtesy of Does this mean they are all des- Lnothing wrong to participate personally drafted the changes to the the new breed Commons tined to vanish in his wake? Prob- in a sex party of any kind,” said Hungarian constitution that defined of ‘illiberal’ Wikimedia ably not, but that would be nice. a source in the European Parlia- marriage as being between a man populists—and Gwynne Dyer’s new book is ment. “However, such kinds of and a woman. He has now resigned when they think ‘Growing Pains: The Future of meetings with many people are il- as the leader of the Hungarian del- they are losing, Democracy (and Work)’. legal under the coronavirus laws.” egation to the European Parliament, they always up The Hill Times Chiune Sugihara the embodiment of everlasting commitment to life

Darius Skusevičius, Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada

well-known maxim from the Jewish Talmud says: “He who saves a Life Asaves the World.” This year we mark the 120th birth anni- versary of the Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara and the 80th anniversary of his mission in Kaunas, Lithuania. Chiune Sugihara, The Righteous Among the Nations, was issuing transit visas, known as “Visas for Life”, for Jews allowing them to Survivors’ Stories flee to other countries through Japan and ultimately saving lives of 6 000 innocent people. “I may have to disobey the govern- Hear from ‘Sugihara ment, but if I don’t, I would be disobeying visa’ survivors and God.”- said Chiune Sugihara. their descendants – Dr. The Parliament of Lithuania declared 2020 Sylvia Smoller, Mr. the Year of Chiune Sugihara to mark these Isaac Tarshansky, Dr. anniversaries and to once again reflect George Bluman and Ms. on his deed. Chiune Sugihara’s name be- came the symbol of altruism, kindness, lib- Karen and Laura Leon – eration and courage for many people across and learn more about the world. He was, is and will always remain their lives and stories. proof, that one man can make a change.

As the horrors of World War II become dis- Visa Photo credit: George Bluman tant past, we should not allow ourselves to forget the tragedy of Holocaust. Lithuania have lost too many of its compatriots Jews who peacefully lived in the country more ‘Visas for Life’ and the bond of humanity: than six centuries. With them, we have lost a very important part of the entire Lithuanian Sugihara Chiune’s courageous humanitarian act historical and cultural heritage as well as a remarkable part of the European culture. December 8 - 12, 2020 The story of Sugihara is very much relevant today, as ongoing global and regional con- Online Film Screening and talks flicts have produced the biggest number of refugees since the World War II, reminding www. visasforlife.info us of geopolitical changes that happened 8 decades ago. On 8th-12th of December, Embassies of Japan, Israel and Lithuania, together with Film Screening The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Canadian Society for Yad Vashem “Persona Non Grata” and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) organize vir- tual event – ‘Visas for Life’ and the bond The story of Chiune Sugihara, of humanity: Sugihara Chiune’s courageous a Japanese diplomat, and his humanitarian act. During the event, you will life leading up to and after hear life stories of Holocaust Survivors, mov- his decision to issue over ie “Persona Non Grata” will be screened. (Event link https://visasforlife.info). 2,000 visas to Jewish refugees in Kaunas, Lithuania, Let’s spread the life story of Chiune Sugihara saving the lives of over 6,000 as wide as we can. Holocaust education is of utmost importance. Let’s do our best to people. (Directed by Cellin make sure that the young generation knows, Gluck, 2015, 139 min.) through example displayed by Chiune Sugi- hara, about the painful past and the everlast- ing value of human- Documentary film “Sugihara Survivors – Jewish and Japanese, Past and Future” will be also presented. istic decisions even in the most dark and difficult circumstanc- es. Let’s never forget and let’s work for a change. All together. Today. 16 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion If we’re going to spend a billion dollars a year managing our nuclear waste, let’s do it right

The Ottawa River is a Canadian Heritage River that flows past Parliament Hill— surely we don’t want to be the generation responsible for permanently contaminating it with radioactive waste, writes Lynn Jones. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The GoCo contractor is called sub-standard. They are: a giant, waste experts, and concerned on to future generations. Accord- Let’s meet or exceed the “Canadian National Energy above-ground mound beside the citizens. And yet the projects con- ing to the U.S. National Research Alliance” (CNEA) even though Ottawa River at Chalk River, tinue to lumber forward and the Council, there is no safe level of international the majority of its members are Ontario, for one million tonnes of consortium continues to receive exposure to ionizing radiation standards and build foreign corporations. It currently mixed radioactive and non-radio- almost a billion dollars a year released from nuclear reactors consists of Fluor and Jacobs, active wastes including plutoni- from Canadian taxpayers. and nuclear waste facilities. And secure storage two Texas-based multination- um, and entombment in concrete Does anyone in government yet Canada is pouring billions als involved in nuclear weapons of two old nuclear reactors beside have their eyes on this ball? Did of dollars into projects that will facilities, well away production, and SNC-Lavalin. the Ottawa and Winnipeg rivers they notice when AECL renewed not keep these poisons out of our Under the contract, the consor- which provide drinking water to the GoCo contract early in the environment and drinking water. from drinking water tium assumed control over all millions of Canadians. pandemic lockdown, 18 months Surely we can and must do Canada’s federal nuclear facilities More than two dozen submis- before expiry, despite the recent better. The Ottawa River is a Ca- sources. and radioactive wastes. sions to the Impact Assessment conviction of consortium part- nadian Heritage River that flows Since the GoCo contract Agency from ex-AECL nuclear ner SNC-Lavalin on a charge of past Parliament Hill—surely we was signed, costs to Canadian waste experts including senior fraud? Are they concerned by the don’t want to be the generation taxpayers appear to have almost scientists and senior managers rapidly rising costs and substan- responsible for permanently quadrupled. According to AECL highlight serious concerns about dard proposals? contaminating it with radioactive financial reports, its parliamen- the three projects and, in their Are they aware that the con- waste. tary appropriations rose from view, say they fail to meet inter- sortium is bringing thousands If we are going to spend a $327-million in 2015 to $1.3-bil- national safety standards. of truckloads of radioactive billion dollars a year managing lion (approved) for the year The consortium’s own stud- waste to Chalk River from other our nuclear waste, let’s do it right. ending March 31, 2021. AECL’s ies show that all three facilities federal facilities in Manitoba, Let’s meet or exceed interna- nuclear waste liabilities have not would leak radioactive contami- Ontario, and Quebec? The Chalk tional standards and build secure gone down, but rather appear to nants into the environment and River Laboratories site is not a storage facilities, well away from Lynn Jones have increased by about $200-mil- drinking water sources. Although good place to consolidate federal drinking water sources. Let’s Opinion lion. the studies concluded that the ra- nuclear waste either for tempo- make sure the wastes are care- The Crown corporation, Atom- dioactive leakage would not pose rary or for long-term storage. It fully packaged and labelled and ic Energy of Canada Limited, was a significant risk, I beg to differ. is seismically active and adjacent stored in monitored and retriev- TTAWA—A contract quietly supposed to oversee the contract According to the consortium’s to the Ottawa River, source of able conditions. This approach Osigned during the 2015 fed- on behalf of the Government of draft environmental impact state- drinking water for Ottawa-Gatin- will create thousands of good, eral election campaign between Canada, but may not have been ment, it appears that the giant eau, Montreal, and many other long-lasting careers in the nuclear Atomic Energy of Canada Lim- in a position to do so. Serious Chalk River mound is expected communities. waste and decommissioning field ited (AECL) and a multinational problems at AECL were identified to eventually disintegrate, in a With all of the problems cur- and show the world what top tier consortium is costing Canadians by the auditor general in a 2017 process referred to as “normal rently facing the world, one might radioactive waste storage facili- billions of dollars and increasing report. Problems included lack evolution.” At that time, its radio- ask, “Why should Canadians care ties look like. risks to health from deadly radio- of a board chair, lack of a CEO, active and hazardous contents about this nuclear waste prob- Lynn Jones is a retired public active pollutants. no board directors at all for 2016 would flow out of the mound into lem?” health program manager now The multi-billion-dollar and most of 2017, failure to hold surrounding wetlands that drain Radioactive waste is the with Concerned Citizens of contract was an attempt by the public meetings and lack of expe- into the Ottawa River less than a deadliest waste on the planet. Renfrew County and Area, a non- former federal Conservative rience with the GoCo model. kilometre away. Nuclear reactors create hundreds governmental organization that government to reduce Canada’s Since 2015, it appears that Hundreds of concerns about of dangerous radioactive sub- has been working for the clean-up $7.9-billion nuclear waste liability the GoCo contractor has spent the three projects have been stances that remain toxic to all and prevention of radioactive pol- quickly and cheaply by creat- hundreds of millions of our tax voiced by federal and provincial life for hundreds of thousands of lution from the nuclear industry ing a public-private partnership dollars promoting three radio- government departments, First years. Exposure can cause serious in the Ottawa Valley for 40+ or GoCo (government-owned, active waste facilities that we Nations, civil society groups, 140 chronic diseases, birth defects, years. She is based in Ottawa. contractor-operated) contract. believe to be quick, cheap, and Quebec municipalities, nuclear and genetic damage that is passed The Hill Times

18 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion

Prime collaboration presented by the Minister minority government. New Green Justin Party Leader Annamie Paul is Trudeau, also a supporter of electoral re- pictured form according to her leadership holding platform. a press While one path forward could conference be to advocate for the adoption of outside the special committee’s 2016 rec- the Rideau ommendations, another option is Cottage on to conduct a citizens’ assembly on Nov. 24, electoral reform. There is a peril 2020, in inherent to allowing politicians Ottawa. The to decide on the system through Hill Times which they’re hired; a citizens’ photograph assembly would remove politi- by Andrew cians’ self-interest from decisions Meade on the future of our electoral system. Just like the 2016 special committee, this assembly would receive experts’ advice and solicit broad citizen input. Furthermore, it would be more politically peril- ous for Trudeau to reject recom- mendations from citizens than to reject the recommendation of a committee process many Cana- dians aren’t aware of and don’t really understand. But what’s the point in con- ducting another deliberative pro- cess if, ultimately, Trudeau holds the power to ignore the recom- mendations? As part of activists’ requests for a citizens’ assembly on electoral reform, we should de- mand that Trudeau pre-commit to conducting a referendum on the result. But as we’ve learned from past referenda on electoral re- form, they are doomed without a well-resourced and well-balanced communications strategy. The referenda held following the Ontario and British Columbia citizens’ assemblies on electoral reform failed in part due to a lack Time to put some heat of public connectivity to the as- sembly’s deliberative process and lack of comprehension of the as- semblies’ recommendations. The public simply doesn’t benefit from the same level of expert informa- on Trudeau to advance tion that assembly participants do. Thus, an effective communica- tions plan is necessary to bring the information shared within the assembly to the public. Without this, a referendum on electoral electoral reform reform is vulnerable to opponents exaggerating risks of leaving first past the post behind. ing system for federal elections. recent numbers. Post-election More recent polling by Léger In the aforementioned Septem- Political pressure is But this key 2015 campaign trail 2019 polling from the Angus Reid from September 2020 shows even ber 2020 Léger poll, 80 per cent of promise was not to be kept; Justin Institute shows majority support higher support than in 2019 with respondents supported a citizens’ the most effective Trudeau ignored the report, and for proportional representa- 76 per cent of respondents sup- assembly on electoral reform. If months later through a cabinet tion among Canadians at 68 per porting the move to a more pro- we see this implemented, advo- tool we have—and shuffle, removed electoral reform cent—up from 47 per cent in 2016. portional voting system. Support cates for proportional represen- this is especially true from the mandate of the new min- Furthermore, the most significant from every party’s voters mea- tation should stay vigilant of at- ister for democratic institutions. spikes in support are among the sures above 70 per cent: support tempts by Trudeau to undermine within a minority Ignoring the committee’s citizen- parties that received fewer seats among Conservative voters was the process or attempts to dodge and expert-informed recommen- than their vote shares should 72 per cent, and among Liberal the results. He’s done it before, government situation. dation, he stated that “a clear pref- merit—the Conservatives, NDP, voters, 75 per cent. after all. erence for a new electoral system, and Greens—while we see small- Ultimately, political pressure is let alone a consensus, [had] not er increases in support among the most effective tool we have— emerged.” Alas, 2015 was not to parties who benefited from first Finding a path forward and this is especially true within be the last election conducted past the post this past election. Though the door to electoral a minority government situation. under first past the post. Polling on support for electoral reform was slammed shut in Citizens should continue to contact But circumstances have reform can be dodgy. Responses 2016, the minority government their MPs to advocate for pro- shifted. Now with only a minor- can be politically motivated: for we now find ourselves under has portional representation, and the ity government, there is room for example, an individual’s response cracked opened that door. While parties that provide legislative sup- other parties to apply pressure. could be biased towards support- Trudeau may continue to ignore port to the Liberals should make With enough focused effort from ing the system that would benefit resounding public support for a their support conditional on the both citizens and the parties that their preferred party. This may proportional voting system, the advancement of electoral reform. Megan Mattes support electoral reform, there explain the only modest leap in other parties in Parliament can This is one of the best opportuni- ties to advance electoral reform Opinion may be a chance to pressure support for proportional repre- seize this as an opportunity to Trudeau to correct his mistake. sentation among supporters of the prove to voters that they prioritize we’ve had in recent memory—so Bloc and Liberals. Despite this, the Canada’s democracy over party let’s make the most of it. our years ago this week, the Support for electoral data shows that among supporters interests. Megan Mattes is a volunteer FSpecial Committee on Elector- of every party, the majority is in Recent developments show with Fair Vote Canada and a al Reform published its final re- reform has grown favour of proportional representa- promise on this front. In a recent recent master of public policy port. Following months of citizen While 2016 polling data may tion. This is a clear demonstration letter to Trudeau, NDP Leader graduate from the Munk School at and expert input, the committee’s provide Trudeau with some politi- of preference for proportional rep- Jagmeet Singh reaffirmed his the University of Toronto. Follow report recommended the imple- cal cover for his broken promise, resentation, and this time around support for electoral reform, and her on Twitter at @meganjmattes mentation of a proportional vot- the same cannot be said about Trudeau can’t claim otherwise. remarked on the opportunity for The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 19 Opinion Canada can’t afford not to be in space

on Earth, especially in light of Every dollar invested the global pandemic. That’s when I realize that those of us working in space by the in this industry haven’t done a Canadian government good enough job of explaining how essential space is to our has a strong everyday lives—did you know that space touches the lives of multiplier effect Canadians 20 to 30 times a day? It provides the silent, but criti- producing roughly cal infrastructure for everything from television, weather predic- twice the impact. tions, monitoring climate change, Investments in space the internet and wireless com- munications, finance, agricul- have an immediate ture, shipping, to ground and air traffic management, and so much effect—they are rocket more. (Can you imagine living through this pandemic without fuel for Canada’s high-speed internet to power your Zoom calls, facilitate your economic recovery. doom-scrolling and fuel your binge streaming?) And, maybe more importantly, we haven’t done a good job of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Aug. 9, 2018, visiting MDA's Montreal facility to see the RADARSAT explaining just how important Constellation Mission satellites before they launched. The global space market is worth more than USD$420-billion being a leader in space is going today; Morgan Stanley forecasts this market will grow to USD$1-trillion per year by 2040. Canada's well-positioned to to be to Canada’s future, both our lead in that future, if we keep our hand in, writes Mike Greenley. Photograph courtesy of MDA immediate future (the economic recovery), and longer term, as knowledge and creativity to solve a top priority for a country with industry there is. Indeed, thanks Canada positions itself for future the problems of the pandemic. Canada’s geography—and the to the strategic choices made prosperity and continued high New ventilators? Check. New vac- engineers and scientists and back then, and along the way, quality of life. Mike Greenley cines and drug therapies? Check. policy-makers decided, at the Canada is now a world leader In terms of the economic re- Opinion New economic support policies? outset of the space race, that a in three key areas—satellite covery, there’s a school of thought Check. For the good of their fellow satellite might just be the solu- communications, Earth observa- that says, ‘Let’s look back to how citizens, and the country. tion. Their ingenuity catapulted tion (RADARSAT), and space things were and try to repair pan- hen the going gets tough, The space sector is certainly us into space with the big guys. robotics (Canadarm). Because demic ravages to our economy Wthe tough get going. Neces- no stranger to those aphorisms, Canada was the third country in in space, the government’s role by directing money where the sity is the mother of invention. no stranger to engineers and space, the first to have a satel- is paramount—as an investor, damage is worst.’ There is another We’ve all seen those aphorisms scientists and policy-makers ap- lite telecommunications system, owner, regulator, and anchor school of thought that says, ‘Let’s in action lately, from front-line plying their knowledge to finding and first to have an operational customer. turn this epic challenge into an workers of all kinds rolling up needed solutions. and commercially focused radar People sometimes ask me how opportunity for a reset and build their sleeves and getting the job Tenacity and ingenuity were remote sensing system. Today, we Canada can afford to be in space back better, charting a path to done, to engineers and scientists called for when Canada needed have a 60-year legacy of leader- when there are so many prob- (and policy-makers) applying their long-distance communications— ship in the most forward-looking lems that need our attention here Continued on page 29

right people to the right jobs is changing perceptions. On the radar: polytechnics It’s time for Canadians to recognize that there is plenty of space for our best and brightest on the shop floor and to encour- delivering 21st century talent age our young talent to take on a vocational education. Second, we need to enable more young people to participate in work-integrated learning. for Canada’s aerospace sector Co-ops, internships, appren- ticeships and the like provide young people with real world vehicles to remote regions of the ensure Canada’s aerospace sector experience in the sector, allowing Directing more country. continues to thrive, what can we them to enter the workforce and Canada needs a strong aero- do? hit the ground running—or, per- government dollars space sector and aerospace needs First, we need to better pro- haps, take to the air flying—and at applied research Canadian talent. mote the skilled trades as viable are necessary to creating a more Canada’s polytechnics are career options. efficient talent pipeline. is not only good key partners in the delivery of One of the most significant However, work-integrated a skilled talent pipeline for the talent shortages we are facing in learning opportunities aren’t as for innovation and aerospace sector. Institutions that Canada generally, but in aero- widely available across the sec- focus on applied learning like space specifically, are skilled tor as they could be. Challenges productivity, it also Daniel Komesch the British Columbia Institute tradespeople. Part of this chal- include low employer awareness ensures we have a Opinion for Technology, Saskatchewan lenge relates to perceptions. In about how to bring students Polytechnic and Seneca College Canada, the skilled trades are onboard and the supports that are healthy supply of produce people across the whole often viewed as back-up, rather available to them, as well as the erospace is an integral and value chain—innovation-enabled than backbone careers, and difficulty of aligning work terms talent, enabled with Astrategic sector for Canada. talent performing R&D, skilled young people are encouraged to with academic calendars. Not only does it add high-value tradespeople manufacturing and pursue other routes, which is why The federal government has the most up-to-date jobs, innovation intensity—with repairing parts, technicians and many never try the trades until made significant investments in beneficial spill-over effects—and technologists improving and later in life. work-integrated learning recently skills and knowledge billions in GDP to our economy, maintaining aircrafts, pilots and The average age of newly and through investments from the at the fingertips of it’s also key to protecting our sales and marketing specialists, registering apprentices is 27 for federal government, the Business borders, surveilling the North, among others. men and 28 for women. To create Higher Education Roundtable has Canada’s aerospace putting Canadians in space, and There are, however, challenges an efficient talent pipeline for the signed an agreement with the Ca- potentially, delivering COVID-19 recruiting talent through much aerospace sector, career naviga- sector. testing kits via unmanned aerial of the aerospace supply chain. To tion is key and part of getting the Continued on page 29 20 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Opinion Bill C-7 is a matter of life and death for persons with disabilities

Let’s take our time debating Justice Minister and Attorney General this issue and coming to David Lametti, pictured on the Hill the right conclusion. For on Nov. 26, 2020, persons with disabilities, is the minister responsible for this is literally a matter of Bill C-7. The Hill Times photograph by life and death. Andrew Meade

Nicolas Rouleau Opinion

y cavalierly hurrying through Parliament Band limiting debate on legislation to ex- pand access to assisted death in Canada (Bill C-7), the Canadian government is fast-track- ing the deaths of persons with disabilities. Up until now, medical assistance in dy- ing (MAiD) has been limited to those at the end of their lives. Similar to palliative care opposition to Bill C-7. Yes, some individuals and other medical end-of-life options, the with disabilities suffer; some would request Canadian MAiD regime aims to safeguard access to MAiD if offered the opportunity. the principle of equality by ensuring that But so would many other individuals in ONE all dying Canadians have an option for a marginalized groups. This doesn’t mean the peaceful and painless death. A death with- government should target these groups as WORLD out excruciating suffering is something recipients of MAiD instead of addressing that most Canadians, including those with the underlying structural factors causing REFUGEE disabilities, want to take for granted. For their suffering. On the whole, the empirical context, Canada’s end-of-life MAiD regime evidence confirms that if provided appro- FILM is more permissive than in virtually any priate support, the lives of persons with FESTIVAL other country. disabilities are as rich and happy as those Beyond the end-of-life context, there are of any other individuals. December 1-14, 2020 no other circumstances where the gov- By expanding MAiD for Canadians with owrff2020.eventive.org ernment promotes, encourages, enables, disabilities (but not for other Canadians), accepts, tolerates or is otherwise involved the government sends the powerful and in the deaths of its citizens. This, too, is discriminatory message that Canadians equality-affirming. The government signals with disabilities—and only these Cana- that the lives of all individuals are essen- dians—are unessential. By rushing the tial—that they have equal value and an debate on MAiD, the government sends the equal ability to enrich the Canadian fabric. further message that it doesn’t care. Through Bill C-7, however, the govern- The government’s reckless approach ment is seeking to expand MAiD beyond will in turn fuel the existing stereotypes “end-of-life circumstances” for Canadians that the lives of persons with disabilities with grievous and irremediable illnesses have less value than the lives of others, and disabilities whose suffering is intoler- that persons with disabilities are better off able to them. Put coarsely, the government dead, that they are a burden on the state will enable the deaths of persons with and their loved ones, and that they have a disabilities in circumstances where their lousy quality of life. Already, these ste- life expectancy is otherwise open-ended. reotypes disproportionately lead persons It is taking this unprecedented step solely with disabilities to commit suicide, just as on the basis of one non-binding trial court similarly pernicious stereotypes lead other decision that it has refused to appeal. minorities to do so. No other Canadian group, no matter If adopted, Bill C-7 will discriminate the suffering of its individuals, is consid- against persons with disabilities under sec- ered expendable and offered MAiD by tion 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights the government because of its personal and Freedoms and bring Canada in conflict characteristics. It would be barbaric for with its obligations under the United Na- the government to offer MAiD exclusively tions Convention on the Rights of Persons to any other marginalized minority, such with Disabilities. This is not a desirable as persons of Indigenous descent, whose outcome. intolerable suffering is caused by histori- Let’s take our time debating this issue cal institutional and social failures. Why and coming to the right conclusion. For should it be less barbaric to offer MAiD persons with disabilities, this is literally a exclusively to persons with disabilities, matter of life and death. whose suffering disproportionately results Nicolas Rouleau is a constitutional from a lack of social assistance and institu- and appellate lawyer who has represented tional support? Inclusion Canada and the Council for Ca- For this reason, disability-rights organi- nadians with Disabilities. zations are essentially unanimous in their The Hill Times The Hill Times | Dec. 7, 2020 ENERGY POLICY BRIEFING The power behind transition: a Canada’s on national energy the cusp of system strategy a historical p. 25 energy transformation, With economic let’s do it statement, p. 24 federal government keeps us Approaching Biden waiting on real administration: climate action don’t lead with p. 28 Keystone p. 27 Climate and shifting markets define energy Is Canada’s challenges for oil sector an Canada appropriate target p. 26 for industrial Canada Energy Regulator report shows a policy support? need for new climate scenario planning p. 28 p. 23 22 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Energy Policy Briefing Experts and parliamentarians look ahead to SMR action plan to be released in near future released this fall on how Canada Canada's federal cal engineering at the University Natural Resources can lead the world in developing Natural Resources of British Columbia and nuclear small modular nuclear reactors Minister Seamus policy expert who was part of the parliamentary (SMRs). O'Regan, pictured consultations that led to the 2018 secretary Paul At a virtual conference on in 2019 on SMR Roadmap, said Canada’s Nov. 18, natural resources parlia- the Hill. At the export potential is likely highest Lefebvre confirmed on mentary secretary Paul Lefebvre Canadian Nuclear in the early days of SMRs. (Sudbury, Ont.) confirmed the Association's “Can Canada expect to Nov. 18 that the action plan will be delayed because it is annual conference become a global commercial “too important to be rushed” but in Ottawa on Feb. supplier of SMRs? I find that dif- plan will be delayed. that it should be out soon. 27, 2020, Mr. ficult to imagine on a very large “We’re still putting the finish- O'Regan's keynote scale, given the fact that other ing touches on it,” Mr. Lefebvre speech extolled the countries are all involved in the BY AIDAN CHAMANDY said. virtues of nuclear development of SMRs,” he said. SMRs are smaller than energy and said “We may become one of the early hen Seamus O’Regan was conventional reactors and can it was the time to suppliers, we might build the Wsworn in as minister of be manufactured far from the put it 'front and first five or 10.” natural resources on Nov. 20, intended location, and then be centre.' The Hill Mr. Meisen stressed the need 2019, his mandate letter didn’t transported and assembled on Times photograph by for the action plan to deal with explicitly mention nuclear energy, site. The International Atomic En- Andrew Meade that possibility and the “number although it did use language like ergy Agency (IAEA) defines them of other things that have to come “clean technology.” In the time as being able to generate around together to make SMRs viable, since, he’s clearly communicated 300 megawatts. Large reactors Indigenous communities, and in which type of SMR the govern- acceptable, and successful.” his intention to make nuclear a like those in Bruce, Darlington, regular on-grid situations. ment sees as most promising for “There are the benefits, the un- big part of Canada’s clean energy and Pickering generate well over Marla Orenstein, director of an early deployment. knowns, and the drawbacks. And future. 1,000 megawatts each, according the natural resources centre at Prof. Bratt also referred to an I think the action plan will and “He’s been more active on this to the Canada Energy Regula- the Canada West Foundation, Oct. 6 announcement from Ontar- should look at all three of these file than previous ministers,” said tor. The 2018 SMR Roadmap, a said she’s curious to see what io Power Generation (OPG) that aspects,” he said. Duane Bratt, a political science document released by Natural the government envisions as the the Crown corporation will work One of the main drawbacks, professor at Mount Royal Univer- Resources Canada intended to “leading-edge cases” for the new alongside three SMR developers, according to NDP MP Richard sity who specializes in nuclear help guide SMR development technology. including Terrestrial, to advance Cannings (South Okanagan-West policy. Prof. Bratt said that was in Canada, said the government “Some of the industrial uses, the engineering and design work Kootenay, B.C.), his party’s natu- partially due to the contentious expects SMRs to be operational especially in remote areas, seem needed to actualize the technol- ral resources critic, is the time pipelines debates that plagued by the late 2020s. pretty easy to me,” she said. ogy. He said the work OPG has it will take for SMRs to operate former natural resources min- As fall turns to winter, some She said she isn’t sure remote done could position it as the first and how the government appears ister Amarjeet Sohi’s tenure as experts and parliamentarians communities will be as keen on host site for an SMR in Canada. to be selling them as a way to minister. said they’re eager for the action the prospects. Richard Sexton, president get Indigenous communities off “Much of the pipeline deci- plan’s release to see how the gov- “I haven’t seen any remote and CEO of Atomic Energy of diesel. sions have already been made, ernment plans to support SMR rural communities come forward Canada Limited (AECL), a federal “There are other technologies now it’s just a matter of the development in a global environ- with their hands up to say ‘Yeah, Crown corporation and owner of that are available right now wind, follow-through. That’s why ment that is getting increasingly we really want nuclear power Canada’s largest nuclear science solar, biofuels, that can meet their O’Regan can look at new types of competitive, as other countries here’,” she said. “I’m curious to see and technology laboratory in energy needs,” he said. initiatives,” he said. like the U.K. outline multi-million if any progress has been made Chalk River, Ont., said he’s “very In December 2018, a Special At the Canadian Nuclear As- dollar plans for SMRs in their there.” anxious to see the details of the Chiefs Assembly of the Assembly sociation’s annual conference in jurisdictions. Others, however, For Prof. Bratt one of the key action plan” and that he expects of First Nations passed a unani- Ottawa on Feb. 27, Mr. O’Regan’s are less bullish on the action plan things to watch in the action plan AECL to play a role in SMR de- mous resolution opposing SMR keynote speech extolled the because they’re skeptical of the will be whether it is announced velopment and deployment. development and demanding that virtues of nuclear energy and said nascent technology and the long alongside an SMR prototype. He said given the Chalk River the federal and Ontario govern- it was the time to put it “front and timelines when Canada is trying “Really what we need to see lab’s experience in developing the ment stop funding SMR develoop- centre.” to slash greenhouse gas emis- is an actual constructed reactor,” CANDU reactors and the sig- ment. Their concerns largely “This is nuclear’s moment. This sions in the near-term. he said. nificant “capability embedded in revolved around nuclear waste is your moment to shape the next The action plan is, in part, sup- He pointed to a $20-million our lab,” that he expects AECL to management. wave of nuclear technology, and posed off build off the work done investment in Terrestrial En- play a role in the future of SMRs “What concerned me most move to the front lines in the battle in the 2018 Roadmap. ergy’s molten salt SMR from the in Canada. AECL and Canadian was the minister’s real unbridled against climate change and the plan That document outlined cases Strategic Innovation Fund an- Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) enthusiasm for it. I’m hoping that to get Canada to net zero by 2050,” in which they see SMRs being nounced by Innovation, Science have been working together to his ministry realizes that there Mr. O’Regan said in his speech. able to sustainably generate and Industry Minister Navdeep develop a process to establish an are better ways to do things right Later in the speech, he teased power in remote communities, on Bains (Mississauga Malton, Ont.) SMR demonstration project on an now. Let’s concentrate on them,” an “action plan” that was set to be heavy industrial sites, in certain on Oct. 15 as a potential hint for AECL owned site, such as Chalk Mr. Cannings said. River. Another concern raised by Mr. Sexton touted a project Mark Winfield, professor of host agreement they have with environmental studies at York Global First Power for a gas- University, is the possibility cooled SMR. The agreement that SMRs won’t be captured allows Global First Power to do under the Impact Assessment some early work to determine Act (IAA). The IAA potentially on which site the reactor would exempts SMRs that generate less eventually be housed, he said. than 200 megawatts and are not “Global First Power is the most located on an existing nuclear mature project SMR project in site from undergoing an impact Canada. They’re the furthest along assessment. in the regulatory and environmen- Conservative MP Greg tal impact process. Their technol- McLean (Calgary Centre, Alta.), ogy is quite mature,” he said. his party’s natural resources Mr. Sexton said Canada could critic, said he doesn’t have be a world leader in exporting specific expectations around the SMR technology to countries like action plan, and that his primary the U.K. that are also interested concern in ensuring Canada has in developing them. The U.K. re- “good choices for its future en- cently unveiled a CAD $666-mil- ergy portfolio needs.” lion advanced nuclear technology He said SMRs could poten- fund as part of the “Ten Point Plan tially be used as a cheaper option for a Green Industrial Revolu- to power remote communities tion” that will invest up to CAD than connecting them to a regular $372-million in SMRs. power grid. Axel Meisen, a professor [email protected] Source: Natural Resouces Canada emeritus of chemical and biologi- The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 23 Policy BriefingEnergy Canada Energy Regulator report shows a need for new climate scenario planning

Focusing on the “Evolving” scenario, The CER report falls short crude oil production in Canada peaks in 2039 at just over 5.8 MMb/d, an increase of in its goal of exploring 20 per cent from 2019 to 2040 before level- a range of possible ling off and falling slightly to 5.3 MMb/d by 2050. In situ bitumen production grows futures and misses major 37 per cent over the projection period with significant growth coming from expan- potential shifts in fuel and sions to existing facilities (making up 15 per cent of total oil sands production by energy demand that have 2050) however some growth comes from important economic and new in situ facilities. The “Evolving” is consistent with BP’s policy implications for BAU scenario which BP describes as one where “government policies, technologies Canada. and social preferences continue to evolve in a manner and speed seen over the recent past.” Canadian oil market share rises slightly from five per cent of global produc- tion to six per cent. However in the more ambitious “Rapid” and “Net Zero” scenarios from BP, where climate action accelerates, maintaining the oil production growth in the CER “Evolv- ing” scenario implies a significant market share increase for Canadian oil, doubling Sara Hastings-Simon to 10 per cent or more than tripling to 16 Opinion per cent, respectively, by 2050. Maintaining a fixed market share would imply Canadi- an production of only 2.5 and 1.5 MMb/day he recently released Energy Future in 2050 as compared to the 5.3 MMb/day in T2020 report (EF2020) from the Canada the “Evolving” case. Energy Regulator (CER) is the latest long- The qualitative “towards net zero” The International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook scenarios saw over a decade of dramatically term energy outlook that builds on the his- scenario in EF2020 is largely focused on undershooting actual solar photovoltaic growth before finally declaring solar as 'king' in 2020. tory of projections published by the precur- approaches to reduce emissions from oil Image courtesy of Pixabay sor to the CER, the National Energy Board, production as opposed to examining how since 1967. As the CER explains the goal of production increases might fail to material- Reliability Council overshot actual growth In the case of oil production more sophis- the modelling exercise is to “explore how ize in a world using significantly less oil. starting in the 1970s. Nor is the issue only ticated modelling could explore the impact possible energy futures might unfold for Forecasting a changing future is dif- seen in energy modelling—rising interest of declining rates for existing production, Canadians over the long term.” ficult—capturing and modelling changes rates that failed to materialize underpin as well as distribution of spending for new However, in a world that is seeing an to trends is much harder than projecting the federal budget for more than two development. It is these kinds of approaches increasing pace of change in energy trends, history forwards and status quo bias en- decades. that expand the scenario space, along with the EF2020 falls short in its goal of explor- ters into what we view as purely analyti- The comparisons of market share pre- more complete modelling of a net zero future ing a range of possible futures. Focusing on cal models. This challenge is certainly not sented here are a simple exercise and they that should be included in future outlooks. a primary “evolving” scenario, with a core unique to CER. The International Energy shouldn’t be taken as proof of a different Sara Hastings-Simon is a senior re- premise “that action to reduce the GHG Agency World Energy Outlook scenarios trajectory for Canadian oil production. searcher at the Payne Institute for Public intensity of our energy system continues to saw over a decade of dramatically under- Rather they do make a compelling case for Policy at the Colorado School of Mines, increase at a pace similar to recent history, shooting actual solar photovoltaic growth a more detailed treatment of potential al- a research fellow at the University of in both Canada and the world” misses key before finally declaring solar as “king” in ternative futures for Canadian oil produc- Calgary, and the co-host of the Energy vs dynamics that could play out in a world that 2020. Electricity demand growth projec- tion, and a review of scenario modelling Climate podcast. is poised to move more quickly following tions from the North American Electric approaches more generally. The Hill Times the pandemic. The qualitative discussion of “towards net zero” attempts to close that gap but misses major potential shifts in fuel and energy demand that have important eco- nomic and policy implications for Canada. In order to achieve their goals of in- Achieving Net-Zero carbon emissions forming decisions there must be a change in future scenario modelling and long-term for Canada by 2050 will require energy outlooks that include a better link to the increasing pace of global change. Failure to do so paints a one-sided picture chemistry-based solutions! that creates significant risk when used as an input to decision making. The nature of the status quo bias can be seen in the oil demand scenarios. Oil produc- tion in Canada is part of a global market that is changing rapidly. The past year has seen asset write-downs across the majors, a drop in spending plans from even from the most bullish counter cyclical spenders such as Exxon and speculation of peak production in the rear view mirror from international ma- jors such as Shell. Scenarios in BP’s Energy Outlook published in September reflect these Greener Buildings Clean Energy Lighter Vehicles Less Food Waste trends with demand for oil falling dramati- cally in all but the business as usual (BAU) scenario. A comparison of Canadian oil produc- Would all be impossible without chemistry and plastics! tion in the EF2020 scenarios with interna- tional projections shows a significant gap in the range of global oil demand futures considered between the Canadian model- Learn more at canadianchemistry.ca ling and global scenarios. 24 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Energy Policy Briefing Canada is on the cusp of a historical energy transformation, let’s do it

Government stimulus Canada has long investments need been an energy leader and can to support and continue to be so in both respects accelerate Canada’s if we make that decision now and green transition to plan for it to be an integral part of a net-zero economy our post COVID-19 by changing the ways pandemic recovery, writes in which Canada Green Leader Annamie Paul. produces and Pixabay consumes energy by investing in deep retrofits and clean energy technology.

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul Opinion

he year 2020 is expected to be Tthe largest and most abrupt economic contraction since the Great Depression. The cautious expectation is that, once a vaccine for COVID-19 becomes widely available, the economy can enter a quick rebuilding phase. In the ing Canada’s GHG emissions, grid would be a productivity-en- able energy systems. It has been can fully leverage the promise of months to come, the federal gov- while creating jobs and boosting hancing infrastructure project and described as the biggest economic the clean-tech economy. There is ernment will be seeking to kick- our economy, as building retrofits. provide much-needed stimulus to opportunity of our lifetime. no better time to ramp up our in- start Canada’s economic recovery, However, despite the compelling help Canada’s economy recover In the clean-tech sector, clean vestments in R & D in this sector. with levels of investment not seen environmental and economic case, from the COVID-19 pandemic. energy investment is attractive in The renewable energy sector since WWII. Whenever Canada the Canadian retrofit market is not It would help Canada to meet its both the short and the long run. holds tremendous promise in help- is ready to begin to invest in robust, and industry reports un- target of net-zero GHG emissions Clean energy creates more jobs ing to facilitate a just transition for economic recovery, that recovery derinvestment in the retrofit of ex- by 2050 and support increased than those lost in fossil fuels, and workers in the fossil-fuel sector in needs to be green. That is, govern- isting building stock. For Canada’s use of electricity in transporta- those jobs are widely available to Canada. Our commitment must be ment stimulus investments need private retrofit market to develop tion, buildings, and industry in a workers without college degrees. to leave communities and liveli- to support and accelerate Cana- more rapidly, the federal govern- carbon-neutral way. In the U.S., a clean-energy job has hoods whole as we move away da’s green transition to a net-zero ment should create an ambitious As we seek to jumpstart the been shown to equal an eight per from fossil fuels. Investing public economy by changing the ways and clear framework for increas- economy, there may be no bet- cent to 19 per cent increase in in- funds in a sector that holds the pos- in which Canada produces and ing energy and emissions perfor- ter opportunity than the coming come, and 45 per cent of all work- sibility of high-paying jobs that can consumes energy by investing in mance and support the develop- months for provincial, territorial ers in clean energy production quickly be taken up by oil and gas deep retrofits and clean energy ment of a strong retrofit economy and federal governments to invest have a high school diploma, while workers, using their existing skills, technology. where the market also becomes in a national electrical grid strategy still receiving higher wages than could be key to avoiding mass dis- a key partner in transforming that would see the creation of similarly educated peers in other placement. If we invest wisely, oil Retrofitting buildings: a Canada’s built environment. interprovincial power lines to op- industries. Renewable energy gen- and gas-dependent provinces can Canada has a chance to leap timize our electricity system. This erates more jobs in the short run, leverage their energy sector ex- perfect fit for the climate ahead in this area and to reap the would include building connections when jobs are scarce, such as in pertise to capitalize on a variety of and the economy environmental advantages and between BC and Alberta, eastern a recession, and for every $1-mil- new opportunities in markets like Deep retrofits involve an exten- the gains in international com- Manitoba, Saskatchewan and west- lion in spending in renewables geothermal, lithium and hydrogen sive overhaul of building systems petitiveness a retrofit economy ern Ontario, upgrading connections infrastructure 7.49 full-time jobs among many others. that save up to 60 percent in energy will bring. between New Brunswick and Nova are generated versus the 2.65 jobs Canada is on the cusp of a costs. Given that buildings account Scotia, and enabling renewable from investment in fossil fuels. historical energy transformation, for up to 14 per cent of GHG emis- Sparking our economy electricity to flow across provincial Canada has the opportunity both in terms of the energy we sions in Canada, there is consensus and territorial boundaries. to take a substantial share of the produce and the energy we con- that Canada’s Nationally Deter- through a national clean-tech sector. We have some sume. Canada has long been an mined Contribution can only be renewable energy important advantages, as Canada energy leader and can continue to reached through deep retrofits that Renewing our economy is home to one of the world’s be so in both respects if we make reduce the emissions of the millions electricity grid with investments in cleanest electricity grids, has 12 that decision now and plan for it of square feet of existing institu- The Green Party of Canada has of the 2019 clean-tech 100 compa- to be an integral part of our post tional, commercial, and residential called for ensuring 100 percent of clean-tech energy nies and has a highly skilled en- COVID-19 pandemic recovery. buildings across the country. Canadian electricity is produced Clean-tech is the sector of the gineering and IT workforce— in- Annamie Paul is the leader of There are few activities that from renewable sources by 2030. economy focused on developing cluding the skilled workers in our the Green Party of Canada hold so much potential for reduc- A national non-emitting electricity green innovations such as renew- traditional energy sector—that The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 25 Policy BriefingEnergy

consumption. Environmental performance We need a plan, for energy consumers stopped improving a national energy in 2015 and has since deteriorated. Water strategy reboot that consumption has increased and the volume leads to collaborative of GHGs emitted by energy consumers government, business, remains concerning. and consumer decision- And finally, our society theme includes making, writes Roger indicators for opportunity, compensation, Francis. Photograph contribution to society, and affordability. courtesy of Pixabay Since 2010, this theme has improved by 21 per cent. Energy affordability has im- proved over the past decade. However, not all Canadians enjoy easy access to low-cost or clean energy. Aging diesel generators in remote communities, for example, nega- tively impact community health, the envi- ronment, and economic prospects. Placing consumers at the centre of the transition to a clean energy economy should be a key priority of a national energy system strategy. Energy is transformative. A current na- tional energy system strategy should fuel that transformation. Just like our personal financial health, our energy system impacts all aspects of life in Canada. Energy production and consumption are at the epicentre of the dis- ruptive changes occurring in our economy, environment and society. Our indicators illustrate a system undergoing transforma- tion. But we need a plan—a national energy strategy reboot that leads to collabora- deforestation, energy use, and water use. tive government, business, and consumer Since 2010, this theme has improved by decision-making. Strategy is an important The power behind only four per cent. Deforestation rates are part of transitioning to a clean-energy falling, and air quality is improving as coal growth economy and a sustainable future. fades from the energy mix, but significant A national strategy mechanism needs to work remains to be done. Energy pro- track the impact of these decisions, so that transition: a national ducers are on a positive course as GHG ultimately our “energy bank” thrives. emissions and energy intensity are both Roger Francis is the director of sustain- down, and the energy mix is increasingly ability at the Conference Board of Canada. energy system strategy renewable. The biggest challenge remains The Hill Times

ery Canadian’s need for accessible, secure, The Canadian Energy and affordable energy to fuel daily life. Strategy of 2015 is not up to The Canadian Energy Strategy of 2015, which was built from the collaboration date with the times and is in of the provinces and territories through the Council of the Federation, was a start. need of a reset. However, given the many changes in the What’s another energy system over the past five years it needs a reset. way to describe The Centre for a Clean Energy Growth Economy (CEGE) at the Conference Board Canada’s high-potential of Canada has created an interactive dashboard monitoring the energy system’s life sciences progress towards achieving a clean energy growth economy. By aggregating findings companies from from 14 indicators we define how far the sea to sea? energy system has progressed across three themes of economy, environment, and Roger Francis society. Each theme and indicator can be filtered between producers and consumers, Opinion and by reference period. Essential. The good news is Canada is moving in anada is an energy bank. We need to the right direction. We have experienced an Life sciences Ctreat it like one. We require an energy average 18 per cent improvement across system strategy that would allow Canada the indicators since 2010. Pricing carbon companies in Canada to lead (not follow) market opportunities emissions, adopting tough regulation and are essential to Canadians’ and leverage our capital to transition to investing in innovative technology have all a low carbon future. An energy system helped drive sustainable outcomes. Weak health and our economy. Canada strategy will allow us to better monitor and economic performance for energy pro- achieve our transition. ducers, while slowing their overall transi- has built an extraordinary knowledge Energy is more than developing en- tion, has not stopped their contribution to infrastructure, and we must not lose ergy products like oil, natural gas, hydro, improvement. nuclear, wind, solar, tidal, biofuel, hydro- Indicators tracking value add, invest- momentum in making our country a gen, wood, coal, and geothermal. Energy is ments in capacity, global reach, operating also about users. Transportation, housing, environment, and growth prospects com- global life sciences leader. businesses, affordability, urban and rural prise our economic performance theme. centres, and financial markets all contrib- Since 2010, in aggregate, this theme has ute to consumption. Combined, producers seen an improvement of 31 per cent despite Let’s keep excelling at bringing and consumers make up Canada’s energy challenges in the energy sector. GHG emis- system, and it is undergoing a dramatic sions and economic value add are decou- Canadian life sciences to the world. evolution, often in a discordant way. pling rather than marching in tandem. As Banks do not like discordant environ- technology and environmental practices ments. This is why we need an energy improve, firms are increasing output and To learn more visit admarebio.com system strategy that reflects and balances decreasing associated emissions and im- the needs of the different stakeholders. A pacts. Sustaining this trend is essential to national energy system strategy must sup- achieving balanced, inclusive growth. port Canada’s diverse energy resource base, The environment theme monitors provincial energy interests, and support ev- greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, 26 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Energy Policy Briefing

Canada's federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, pictured Feb. 24, 2020, on the Hill. The federal government’s newly proposed climate change legislation, Bill C-12, would only establish emission reduction targets for 2030 and beyond, and although requiring planning and reporting, does little to advance the achievement of what targets might be set. The government’s initiative on low-carbon fuel standards seems to be faltering, writes Mark Winfield.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

looking well beyond fossil fuels. between those provinces whose New investment in the oil sands, economic strategies anticipate a relatively high-cost source of continued growth in fossil fuel Climate and shifting production, has dried up. development, and by implication in Where all this leads for the associated GHG emissions, and Alberta is an open question. In those provinces who do not. While recent weeks, Jason Kenney’s technological developments may markets define energy UCP government has come to slow the growth in emissions from a belated acknowledgement of the oil sands emissions and other what its predecessors, under pre- types of fossil fuel extraction, they miers Lougheed, Stelmach, Red- are unlikely to halt them complete- ford, Prentice and Notley had all ly. Rather, in a carbon constrained challenges for Canada recognized—that a continuation world, those jurisdictions who plan of an overwhelming dependence to increase their emissions will on fossil fuel commodity extrac- have to acknowledge that they are issues: the stalling out, with the tal assessment process, and the tion and export was not really a implicitly asking others to reduce Whether Canada’s possible exception of Quebec, of federal government has done long-term option for the province. their emissions even further in meaningful progress on climate nothing so far that meaningfully Rather, Alberta needs to diversify compensation. leaders will have the change; and distress in the Alber- constrains the expansion of the its economic and revenue base. Those will be difficult conver- courage and capacity ta oil and gas sector, a product of oil sands, the principal source Rachel Notley’s NDP govern- sations. But they will be essential weak demand and low commod- of GHG emissions growth in ment’s carbon tax on transporta- if Canada, after falling short of to engage in tough ity prices—trends that pre-dated Canada. Quite the opposite, Ot- tion and heating fuels, quickly the original 1992 UNFCC stabi- the COVID-19 pandemic. tawa bought the Trans Mountain dismantled by the UCP govern- lization goal, and its 1997 Kyoto conversations ahead The federal government’s pipeline for the specific purpose ment, was in some ways a polite and 2009 Copenhagen targets, is newly proposed climate change of facilitating the access to new effort at introducing a sales tax in to avoid a fourth failure to meet remains an open legislation, Bill C-12, would only markets for oil sands oil. the cause of revenue stabilization its international climate change establish emission reduction While boom-bust cycles are all and diversification. commitments, this time under the question. Canada’s targets for 2030 and beyond, and too familiar in the oil patch, the To its credit, the Kenney govern- 2015 Paris Agreement. They may economic and although requiring planning and issues the sector is now facing ment has continued with the phase- also present an opportunity to reporting, does little to advance look more structural. Alberta’s out of coal-fired electricity set in address the need for the diversifi- environmental future the achievement of what targets traditional U.S. markets have motion by the Notley government, cation, already being propelled by might be set. The government’s declined significantly over the and some renewable energy devel- forces far beyond the control of depends on their initiative on low-carbon fuel stan- past decade with the dramatic opment. And it has recognized the any province, of regional econo- dards seems to be faltering. Al- growth in the availability of need to upgrade and move towards mies that have become overly choices. though there are strong expecta- “fracked” oil and gas in the United value-added processing the outputs dependent on a limited range tions that the Supreme Court will States. Part of the reason then- of the oil and gas industry. But its of commodity exports. Whether uphold Ottawa’s carbon pricing President Obama could say no directions in other areas remain Canada’s leaders will have the system in the face of provincial to the Keystone XL pipeline was retrograde, particularly its failures courage and capacity to engage challenges, the federal govern- because the U.S. didn’t need the to take the environmental prob- in such conversations remains an ment seems to have little appetite oil it would carry. The incoming lems and growing legacy of wastes open question. Canada’s eco- for moving its backstop carbon Biden administration may take a and landscape disruption associ- nomic and environmental future price beyond the $50 per tonne similar view. More widely, while ated with oil sands development, depends on their choices. plateau it is set to reach in 2022. the Canadian Energy Regulator seriously. Mark Winfield is a professor Despite a great deal of spilled recently suggested markets for The signals from the incoming of environmental studies at York ink over the impacts of the Canada’s oil exports might con- Biden administration in the U.S. University, and co-chair of the federal government’s recently tinue to rise for another decade or are again highlighting the need university’s sustainable energy Mark Winfield adopted Impact Assessment Act two, long-term capital is already for Alberta to re-engage construc- initiative. Prior to joining York he Opinion (Bill C-69), and its climate change moving away from fossil fuels. tively and seriously on the climate was policy and program direc- policies, neither has significantly Climate change driven divestment change file. If Canada remains tor with the Pembina Institute, affected the situation in Alberta. campaigns are emerging among committed to making significant and has written extensively on he state of energy policy in The new Impact Assessment Act pension fund and institutional progress on reducing its green- energy, climate, and environmen- TCanada, as it relates to fossil remains a shadow of the pre-2012 investors, and other long-term house gas emissions, then it will tal issues. fuels, is defined by two major Bill C-38 federal environmen- players in financial markets are require difficult conversations The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 27 Policy BriefingEnergy Approaching the Biden administration on energy: don’t lead with Keystone

Prime Minister Justin Canada-U.S. energy Trudeau and then U.S.-vice president relations have Joe Biden, pictured on Dec. 8, 2016, on fundamentally changed the Hill. President- since the shale revolution, elect Biden committed to bring which makes an opening the U.S. back into the Paris agreement, salvo to the Biden to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 Administration on the and to reduce the carbon intensity Keystone XL Pipeline a of the electricity dangerous move. sector. This aligns with Ottawa’s commitments. Collaborating on these issues could advance both countries’ energy and climate objectives. The Hill Times file photograph by Jake Wright

Monica Gattinger Opinion president into doing immediately what he’s But all of this hinges on Canadian Professor Monica Gattinger is director of committed to do: cancel the permit. governments being willing to refresh their the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science, So what should Canadian governments thinking on bilateral energy relations. If Society and Policy, and chair of Positive Energy. Biden administration represents oppor- do instead? there ever was a time, it is now. The Hill Times Atunities and challenges for Canadian They need to think about things dif- energy, but to be successful in its relations ferently. This is not about a sales pitch for with Washington, Canada needs to think product. It’s about an invitation to collabo- differently about how it approaches the U.S. rate on shared energy and environmental Gone are the days when the U.S. looked priorities in the long term. to Canada as a pivotal energy supplier and Canada and the United States have the crucial pillar of national energy security. largest interconnected and interdependent What happened? Two words: shale and energy system in the world. They are also climate. among the largest hydrocarbon reserve hold- The shale revolution transformed the ers and producers. Both are also federations U.S. from hydrocarbon poor to hydrocar- in which subnational governments possess bon rich. In the 1980s and 1990s, American substantial energy powers. And with Biden dependence on foreign oil and gas climbed, in the White House, they will both have and energy security was a top policy prior- ambitious commitments on climate. But ity. Fast-forward twenty years and the U.S. energy and climate debates are divisive if not is the largest oil and gas producer in the outright polarized in both countries. world thanks to the rapid development of And therein lies the opportunity: col- tight oil and shale gas. This has fast trans- laborating on the grand energy and climate formed North American and global energy challenges of our time, making the case markets. Just ask OPEC. that Canada and the U.S. stand a better At the same time, climate change has chance of meeting the challenges ahead if achieved unprecedented prominence and they do so together. salience in the US. Climate policy has Biden’s campaign commitments on mainly been the preserve of the Democratic energy and climate signal an ‘all of the Party, but even for administrations that pay above’ approach, defining ‘clean energy’ in less attention—even no attention—to cli- an inclusive way that extends well beyond a mate, it is an inescapable issue of American narrow focus on wind and solar energy, to politics. The fact that U.S. President Donald include support for carbon capture, utiliza- Trump’s commitment to the Keystone XL tion and storage, small modular nuclear pipeline did little to move the yardsticks on reactors and methane reductions. Biden the project is a case in point. committed to bring the U.S. back into the Shale and climate have had a profound Paris agreement, to achieve net zero emis- impact on Canada-U.S. energy relations; sions by 2050 and to reducing the carbon the need for the White House to collabo- intensity of the electricity sector. This aligns rate with Canada on energy has withered. with Ottawa’s commitments. Collaborating Security of supply has evaporated from on these issues could advance both coun- the U.S. policy agenda and climate politics tries’ energy and climate objectives. make fossil fuels a polarizing aspect of A shared approach could also encom- American energy policy. Trips to Washing- pass energy abroad. Oil and gas will re- ton to extol the virtues of Canadian oil and main major staples in global markets in the gas risk falling on deaf ears. decades ahead, but increasingly, they will Or worse. have to be cost and carbon competitive. Which brings us to Keystone. The Biden Canada and the U.S. could work together campaign committed to quashing the presi- to reduce the carbon content of their oil Each year, Cameco’s uranium fuels enough nuclear dential permit for the pipeline. Prime Min- and gas exports. And with the U.S. back ister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier in the Paris Accord, they could collaborate energy in Canada and around the world to power Jason Kenney have committed to working internationally on mechanisms to obtain together to avoid this outcome, but given carbon credits where exports displace 185 million electric vehicles – enough to reduce the potent symbolism of Keystone in the higher emitting energy elsewhere. This global CO2 emissions by 700 million tonnes. U.S., leading with this file is a very risky could even help pave the way for Biden move. It risks cornering the incoming support for Keystone. 28 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Energy Policy Briefing With economic statement, federal government keeps us waiting on real climate action government: a lot of talk about For example, reducing emis- fuel industry remains the most To be fair to this government, Other G7 countries leadership, some new money sions from Canada’s building significant barrier to climate a new climate change action plan for signature policies, but little sector in line with our Paris action in this country. But it is a will be revealed in the coming like France, Germany, recognition of the bigger picture Agreement targets will require problem that the economic state- weeks that details additional challenges facing the country. an investment of up to $11-bil- ment studiously ignores, even as emission reduction policies. How- and the U.K. allocated It amounts to a small step for- lion, according to a recent report it acknowledges the accelerating ever, funding for that plan will billions to a green ward when a leap is needed. from the Institute for Sustainable global transition to renewable likely have to wait until the next The biggest new spending Finance. The $2.6-billion an- energy. full budget in spring 2021. recovery. What we commitment is a $4-billion pack- nounced this week is only a start, The statement places no When it comes to address- age (over 10 years) for various especially if we intend to exceed special emphasis on green jobs, ing climate change, every month got in Canada was nature-based climate solutions, of that target as the government has despite the government’s promise counts. This economic statement which more than $3-billion will promised. in September’s Throne Speech to was an opportunity to accelerate a promise of more go towards meeting the Liberals’ Likewise for zero-emission make climate change “a corner- the government’s climate agenda details to come. 2019 election promise of planting vehicles (ZEVs). The price tag stone of our plan to support and at a moment when the country is two billion trees. for shifting away from internal create a million jobs.” Without mapping out its post-pandemic The government also allocated combustion engines is in the tens an explicit focus on low-carbon economy. $2.6-billion over seven years for of billions of dollars. Getting a employment, we risk recovering Some of our peers, such as home energy efficiency retrofits, few thousand new ZEVs on the jobs in industries like oil and gas Germany and France, allocated as which will be doled out in grants road while scaling up charging production that will just be lost much as 30 per cent of their pan- of up to $5,000 to homeowners, infrastructure is necessary but again in the coming months and demic recovery stimulus specifi- and $437-million for zero-emis- insufficient. years. cally toward emission-reduction sion vehicle purchase incentives And perhaps most importantly, We are at a pivotal moment initiatives. The U.K.’s “Build Back and charging infrastructure. trees planted tomorrow don’t for Canada’s reeling fossil fuel Greener” plan promises to create The statement also references cancel out all the coal, oil and gas sector. We can either reinvest in two million climate jobs as it plans for nuclear energy, public burned today. So while protecting this outdated economic model shifts to a “high-skill, low carbon” transit electrification, border carbon and enhancing natural carbon only to prolong its inevitable economy. Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood adjustments, green bonds and sus- sinks like forests and wetlands is decline, or we can cut our losses What we got in Canada was a Opinion tainable finance, though little new an essential component of a long- now and get a jump start on promise of more details to come. money is allocated in these areas. term climate strategy, it is not a economic diversification and Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood is Taken together, the climate substitute for a plan to phase out a green economy. We owe it to a senior researcher on interna- hen it comes to climate policies announced this week are the production and consumption those workers to ensure a just tional trade and climate policy for Wpolicy, the fall economic worthwhile, but they only amount of fossil fuels. transition to employment in the Canadian Centre for Policy statement delivered more of what to a small piece of Canada’s de- Indeed, our economic and more sustainable industries is an Alternatives. we’ve come to expect from this carbonization puzzle. cultural dependence on the fossil option. The Hill Times

resources and skills, which exist Is Canada’s oil sector an appropriate there in abundance, and tries to nurture new fields of promise. For example, Alberta Innovates has been working for years to target for industrial policy support? produce carbon fibre from bitumen. A moonshot effort to commercialize Rystad Energy expects a demand as people travel less and that technology might have payoffs If we’re looking for sectors with big potential healthy recovery for Canadian telecommute more, and will have similar to another major ($1.4-bil- oil out to 2025, to production destroyed at least two years of oil lion) Alberta technology push: payoffs via future growth, oil as a burnable levels above pre-pandemic levels. growth during which technologies AOSTRA’s work on steam-assisted The Canadian Energy Regula- like electric vehicles kept innovat- gravity drainage, the innovation that fuel probably isn’t on the list. That’s not to tor sees growth in Canadian oil ing. The EV revolution in personal made the oil sands viable. Geother- say the oil patch has no prospects. Smart production peaking in 2039 in its vehicle transport, to which 44 mal energy and hydrogen are also primary scenario. If the post-CO- per cent of crude oil goes, is on obvious fits with existing resources industrial policy starts with existing resources VID recovery is robust there will the cusp of explosive growth that and skills, which might benefit from be strong demand for Canada’s some analysts argue persuasively strong support. Ditto for start up in- and skills, which exist there in abundance, and heavy oil from the U.S. midwest is being badly under-estimated. At novators in areas like production of and Gulf Coast refineries that de- last count 17 countries will phase hydrogen, and novel technologies in tries to nurture new fields of promise. pend on that feedstock, especially out internal combustion engines in well remediation and methane emis- in the face of supply shortages cars by 2040, most coming much sion detection—all technologies with Don Lindsay bemoaned earlier this from Venezuela and Mexico. earlier. President-elect Biden is major potential spin-off benefits in year in withdrawing the company’s At the same time, oil giant BP likely to bring back Obama-era terms of exports and jobs. Existing application for the massive Frontier sees global demand as having fuel economy rules, rolled back federal and provincial programs Oil Sands project. peaked already. The IEA’s existing by the Trump administration, that offer substantial support to many of One way forward may be to policies scenario sees growth in oil would shave an estimated 220,000 these prospects, but the totals are in think about the oil sector through demand plateauing in 2030, and its to 644,000 barrels per day off U.S. the hundreds of millions, in contrast an industrial policy lens. That is, climate-ambitious scenario (like demand (for context, Canada ex- to the billions currently devoted to start not from the environmental that of the Canadian Energy Regu- ports 3.7 million barrels of crude the oil sector. imperatives, but rather ask, if our lator) is more pessimistic, seeing per day to the U.S.). And in the If the pessimistic scenarios are objective is the future prosperity long-term oil prices aligned with the context of a carbon-constrained probable, a focus on future pros- Aaron Cosbey of workers and taxpayers, wheth- BP’s predictions at around USD$55/ future, national oil companies mo- perity means investing heavily in Opinion er the oil sector is an appropriate barrel (Brent crude price). While tivated by the need for jobs more diversifying Canada’s oil-depen- target for government support. those prices would be high enough than profits may actually acceler- dent regions’ economies, applying To be concrete: when Canadian for several pending oil sands expan- ate their production in a race with the lessons we’ve learned from anadian discussions on the governments open the industrial sion projects, and for major existing countries like Canada to sell the decades of (not always success- Cfuture of oil quickly descend to policy toolbox—full of tax breaks, operations (especially oil sands last barrel (the “green paradox”). ful) industrial policy. That, plus partisan polemics, with the envi- grants, R&D support, provision mining), they are hardly a recipe for What does all that mean for a a concerted focus on managing ronmental community arguing that of infrastructure, and low-interest robust growth. Modelling done for policy maker with an industrial the transition to support affected climate change realities mean we loans—which, if any, are appro- the IISD by Navius Research shows policy lens, thinking about where workers and communities as oil’s need to leave it in the ground, and priate for the oil sector? oil prices at that level implying to allocate government support contribution fades, may be key the oil patch arguing that it’s better The answer depends in large significant drops in oil patch GDP, to maximize future prosperity? If elements in a climate and energy that we produce it than our unethi- part on your view of the future. employment, investment and royal- we’re looking for sectors with big policy that manages to rise above cal global competitors. It’s hard to Can we depend on Canada’s oil ties in Alberta. potential payoffs via future growth, the current stand-off. see a bridge between those two po- sector, which has been a major And there are reasons to oil as a burnable fuel probably isn’t Aaron Cosbey is a senior associ- sitions that could lead to national engine of economic prosperity believe the pessimistic projections on the list. That’s not to say the oil ate with the International Institute climate and energy policies—a for decades, to serve in the same are credible. COVID seems to patch has no prospects. Smart in- for Sustainable Development. state of affairs that Teck’s President capacity in the decades to come? have put a permanent dent in oil dustrial policy starts with existing The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 29 Opinion

are the needed and far-reaching structural changes across the economy that will boost our living standards through higher pro- ductivity that comes from innovation and Canada can’t afford We investment in ideas, people, and productive capacity. The post-pandemic world will be different from the pre-pandemic world. not to be in space And countries around the world will be striving to gain leadership in everything to build space systems from beginning need from clean energy, electric vehicles Continued from page 19 and biotechnology, to aviation, digital to end. We have the expertise today that technologies, agri-food and smart cities. the future that focuses on areas of strength will contribute to Canada’s competitive- Canada will need competitive compa- and claims them for this country.’ Space ness in the long run. We have world-class nies with valuable intellectual property is one such area. Every dollar invested in research institutions and a highly-skilled if we are to have a place in this new space by the Canadian government has a STEM workforce. We have the tenacity more world. For Canada, this also means that strong multiplier effect producing roughly and the ingenuity to help position Canada the fossil fuels age will be coming to an twice the impact. Investments in space for success. end. have an immediate effect—they are rocket So, in answer to those who enquire, The big challenge for Canada is to fuel for Canada’s economic recovery. Canada can’t afford not to be in space. We increase the potential growth rate of the And, in the longer term, we know that need to be there for the practical solutions economy, as the fiscal statement does decisions taken about space today are that space brings to Canada, keeping us details acknowledge. The fiscal statement proj- going to affect Canadians’ quality of life on the leading edge of climate science, of ects Canada’s potential growth rate to tomorrow. In the first few decades that robotics and AI, and of communications, average 1.4 per cent a year between now Canada was in space, we were part of connected to the world and each other. and 2025, compared to an already-low a small club, just over a handful. Today, We need to be there to wield geopolitical 1.8 per cent pre-pandemic. Our capacity there are close to 90 countries with space influence. We need to be there to inspire for growth, reflecting weak past invest- agencies or space programs. Countries are the next generation to go further and reach on feds’ ment in innovation, is too low to deliver moving swiftly and decisively to partici- higher. Because, even during the economic the jobs and wealth needed to sustain our pate in the new space economy because, uncertainty created by the pandemic, space standard of living as our society ages and while space may not be the final frontier, is, fittingly, a light on the horizon. With we face even more intense competition for it is the next one. The global space market investments in space paying strong divi- jobs, investment, and output from other is worth more than USD$420-billion to- dends now and over the longer term, this countries. day; Morgan Stanley forecasts this market sector is ready to play its part to help our ‘build- Our pre-pandemic lack of competitive- will grow to USD$1-trillion per year by country build back better. ness has been underscored by our chronic 2040. We’re well-positioned to lead in that Mike Greenley is chief executive officer current account gap which has had to future, if we keep our hand in. We have of MDA. be financed each year by increasing our the capability within our domestic borders The Hill Times public and private debt to the rest of the world, or by selling off more of our existing back- wealth, including ownership of Canadian companies, a process that is not sustain- able. There is little in the fiscal statement to suggest how we might change this. In fact, On the radar: polytechnics it is rarely addressed. The economic statement is very much better’ a political document, with an eye on an delivering 21st century talent election that could easily come next year, and not surprisingly tends to focus on the Liberal core vote in language that plays for Canada’s aerospace sector to and appears to prioritize the feminist and visible minority Liberal base. The Canada's facing plan economic statement says it is producing turbulence across a feminist agenda, promises to reduce most sectors today, the proportion of jobs held by males in but with the help Continued from page 12 clean energy and other industries, and of polytechnics, repeatedly expresses its plans in terms better promotion of ment—aside from some generalities on of women, racialized Canadians, the the skilled trades green investments—gives little sense of LBGTQ2 community, recent immigrants and work-integrated future direction. Where it does, much of the and Indigenous peoples. While building learning, and smarter focus is on fast recovery, not on the much a more inclusive society that enables federal investments in more difficult structural changes we need opportunity for all is a good, noble and innovation, Canada’s for a stronger economy. overdue, goal, the opportunistic language aerospace sector will Yet businesses need to know what they that is divisive is not. have no problems should be planning for so they are ready to As a recent Angus Reid poll shows, taking off once act once we shift to a post-pandemic world. female voters strongly favour the Liberals again, writes Daniel And individuals need some sense of where while male voters favour the Conserva- Komesch. Photograph future jobs will come from so they can be tives. This is true across all age groups. courtesy of Pixabay looking at upgrading or changing skills This has been a recurring divide for some now. time, but overplaying it—as the Liber- In her report, Finance Minister Chrys- als and Conservatives are both in danger Continued from page 19 For the students lucky enough to be tia Freeland insists, “we have a plan. We of doing—is divisive for the country and working on projects for the likes of Boeing, understand what we must do” to “bring the can create a backlash, paving the way for nadian Mobility and Aerospace Institute to guess who comes knocking once they have economy roaring back.” But rather than populist leaders. Donald Trump is a prime create 7,500 new work-integrated learning completed their program? tell us the plan now, she says we must example but not the only one. In Canada, placements. We need more of this. Unfortunately, in Canada, this type wait. “When the virus is under control and Conservative voters are less supportive of Third, we need to make stronger invest- of demand-driven research suffers from our economy is ready to absorb it, we will immigration than Liberal voters. Rather ments in innovation. When we invest in in- woeful underinvestment. Less than three deploy a three-year stimulus package to than condemning them, we should ask novation, and especially that which involves percent of all federal research dollars are jumpstart our economy, worth roughly why. both employers and post-secondary institu- directed at applied research. three to four per cent of GDP.” This in- It will be too easy to view the immedi- tions, we get a double win: innovation gains Directing more government dollars at cludes “a major investment plan” to create ate uptick in the post-pandemic economy, and student talent that is equipped with applied research is not only good for innova- one million “good jobs to strengthen and especially as consumers, with an esti- next-generation skills to take to industry. tion and productivity, it also ensures we have grow the middle class”. mated $150-billion in savings, go out and All polytechnics are deeply involved in a healthy supply of talent, enabled with the The goal is “an economy that is spend, boosting immediate demand for delivering innovation services to industry, most up-to-date skills and knowledge at the greener, more innovative, more inclusive, goods and services. But the much more and several in Canada are home to spe- fingertips of Canada’s aerospace sector. and more competitive,” the fiscal state- difficult challenge, going forward, is the cialized facilities that aid the aerospace We are facing turbulence across most ment says. The emphasis is on creating a creation of a new economy that is a lot sector with their innovation goals and in- sectors in Canada today, but with the help greener economy, as the Biden adminis- more innovative and productive. The fi- volve students in the process. For exam- of polytechnics, better promotion of the tration is planning in the U.S. along with nancial statement pays far too little atten- ple, at Red River College in Winnipeg, the skilled trades and work-integrated learn- many other countries, including Britain, tion to this, yet without more innovation Technology Access Centre for Aerospace ing, and smarter federal investments in Germany, France, China, Korea, and and productivity the immediate recovery & Manufacturing works with partners innovation, Canada’s aerospace sector will Japan. won’t take us very far. like Boeing to test and demonstrate new have no problems taking off once again. Moreover, while jump-starting the David Crane can be reached at crane@ processes and leverage advanced manu- Daniel Komesch is the director of policy economy will be important once we are in interlog.com. facturing expertise to address technologi- at Polytechnics Canada. a post-pandemic world, equally important The Hill Times cal problems. The Hill Times 30 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

Minister of Feds say increased Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco immigration targets Mendicino pictured speaking with reporters during a press conference on key for economic Nov. 12, 2020. The federal government has an ambitious recovery, but critics goal of bringing in more than 400,000 newcomers in 2021 to Canada as part wary of ambitious of its economic recovery plan. The Hill Times photograph plan’s feasibility by Andrew Meade

over 2016-2019,” according to the The government statement. Ms. Dancho (Kildonan-St. recently released Paul, Man.), her party’s immigra- tion critic, told The Hill Times that recently done on immigration, is “It will then spend a further “One in three business owners a target of 401,000 the Conservatives “absolutely be- that there’s not a lot of appetite $15-million on enhancing foreign is an immigrant, and our plan new permanent lieve that economic growth is also to bring in more people at this credential recognition, aiming to sets out a path for responsible tied to immigration, and the fam- particular time.” cut the time it takes for newcom- increases to immigration to help residents in 2021 ily reunification that goes with it,” “There’s support—but we ers to integrate into Canadian the economy recover, with about but she said she was skeptical of tested on the specific numbers,” society by finding jobs in their 60 per cent of admissions in the as part of Canada’s how the government would reach said Mr. Nanos. “We tested on the field more quickly,” wrote Mr. economic class,” according to such an ambitious goal. 340,000 number—do people want Singer in an emailed response to Mr. Cohen. “Newcomers also economic recovery “They won’t even achieve half more, do they want to keep it at The Hill Times. represent about a third of those following a year that of their goal this year, and now the same level, or do they want Claudia Hepburn, CEO of working on the front lines of the they’re promising what we under- less, and what was clear was that Windmill Microlending, a charity pandemic, like family doctors, saw dramatically stand to be the largest influx of the appetite to bring in more than that offers microloans to help pharmacists and nurse’s aides.” permanent residents ever in any 340,000 at this particular point in skilled immigrants and refu- “We’ll continue welcoming the reduced numbers single year in Canadian history time is actually quite weak.” gees to continue their careers in best and brightest from around next year. But I just don’t see how Mr. Nanos said he didn’t Canada, said the COVID-19 pan- the world, who have contributed of newcomers in that’s going to happen,” said Ms. believe these findings means that demic has shone a spotlight on so much throughout the pan- Dancho. Canadians are xenophobic or that the labour market shortages that demic and bring the skills our the midst of the “If you look at what’s hap- they aren’t accepting of refugees. Canada faces in many sectors, businesses need to thrive.” pandemic. pening with confirmations of “But they do see that the including health, IT, engineering Bloc Québécois MP Christine permanent residents, there’s well economy is in different levels and STEM, as well as transporta- Normandin, her party’s immigra- over 10,000 that we’re aware of of shutdown right across the tion. tion critic, told The Hill Times abroad that were approved, did country, that Canadians have “Skilled immigration is cru- that the province of Quebec is Continued from page 1 everything right—were highly uncertainty about their own job cial to any plan to solve those not necessarily looking to raise year, but Conservative MP Raquel skilled, set to come to Canada, prospects because many people shortages, but sometimes they it’s immigration level moving Dancho is warning that backlogs sold their homes, took their kids are being paid to stay home,” said need help to become job ready,” forward—and that the province in Canada’s immigration system out of school, quit their jobs—and Mr. Nanos. wrote Ms. Hepburn in an emailed has in fact decided in past years could be a problem. then the government with their Part of the personal brand response to The Hill Times. “The to lower the rate of selection in Ambitious immigration targets [Order In Council] that closed the of the prime minister and the not-for-profit sector plays a cru- order to deal with backlogs in the are part of the Liberal govern- border, said that they need the Liberal government is being cial role in helping immigrants system. ment’s economic recovery plan. travel authorization form, and welcoming of refugees, according become job ready. A successful “There’s still something The arrival of new permanent they haven’t issued those to most to Mr. Nanos, pointing out that plan for integrating immigrants around 35,000 open case files for residents has plummeted this of those 10,000 people,” said Ms. one of the dividing lines when Mr. into the labour force is as impor- skilled workers that we want to year as the COVID-19 pandemic Dancho. Trudeau won his first election in tant to solving labour shortages have processed, so when it’s done, has shut borders and restricted “So if they can’t even get these 2015 was the welcoming of Syrian as an ambitious immigration we can be quicker on our feet to travel across the world. 10,000 people already approved— refugees. target. We need both.” select people that will able to join Leading pollster Nik Nanos real people that are suffering— “So I see the welcoming of Along with increasing the the job market,” said Ms. Norman- said the government doesn’t I’m not sure how they’re going to new Canadians as part of the numbers of immigrants, Canada din. need to defend bringing in more get 401,000 permanent residents DNA of the prime minister and also needs to make the pathways But in recent conversations Canadians, but “I think they have approved next year,” said Ms. the Liberal Party at this point in to employment as accessible as with her constituents, Ms. Nor- to explain what the urgency is Dancho. “I have a lot of concerns time, and it’s pretty clear [they] possible, according to Ms. Hep- mandin said that she’s spoken to bring more Canadians in now about that, even beyond the believe that it’s not only the right burn. with many industry representa- when we’re in the midst of a pan- economic growth opportunity of thing to do, but that it’s good “This means investment in the tives and business owners and demic—and I think those are two immigration, just the feasibility for the Canadian economy in communication of the resources has found that even in a context different issues.” of bringing in this many people the long run, and is part of the available to assist in their em- of high unemployment, it’s also In late October, Immigration when they’re frankly mistreating growth strategy for Canada,” said ployment journeys,” said Ms. Hep- possible to have workforce short- Minister Marco Mendicino (Eglin- the people that they tried to bring Mr. Nanos. burn. “Support is also required ages. ton-Lawrence, Ont.) announced a in this year.” for those resources and organiza- “It’s possible to have both new government target of 401,000 Mr. Nanos’ firm Nanos Re- Number of new tions with experience in assisting at the same time, and they’re new permanent residents in 2021 search took a poll on the issue immigrants on their employ- a bit afraid that at some point, as part of Canada’s economic in November and found that just permanent residents has ment journey in order to enable immigration will decide to cut recovery following the COVID-19 under two in five Canadians think ‘plummeted’ in 2020 them [to] scale and facilitate the on some streams of immigra- pandemic, the first step in a plan that Canada should accept the Immigration Lawyer Colin increase in numbers.” tions, for example the low wage that would see immigration levels same amount of immigrants in Singer, who is the managing stream, because of the high rate increase by a little over one per 2021 as we did in 2019. partner at Immigration.ca, told ‘We need newcomers of unemployment,” said Ms. Nor- cent of the Canadian popula- “What clearly exists is that The Hill Times that the number of mandin. “But it’s still hard to find tion every year for the next three when Canadians are asked about permanent resident arrivals has to help our economy members of the local workforce years. their support for immigration, plummeted in 2020 compared to bounce back’ in some cases. Or when it comes As part of Finance Minister accepting refugees and bring- the year prior, with only 143,465 Alexander Cohen, Mr. Men- to skilled workers, even though Chrystia Freeland’s fall economic ing new Canadians into Canada, new arrivals in the first nine dicino’s press secretary, said there’s a high rate of unemploy- update on Nov. 30, the govern- when anyone tests on that prin- months of the year compared to Canada’s short term recovery and ment in Quebec, it doesn’t mean ment highlighted their commit- ciple, there’s a significantly high 263,945 in 2019. long term prosperity rely on im- that all of a sudden you’ll find ment to “an immigration system level of support,” said Mr. Nanos. “With immigration levels set migration. welders with 10 years of experi- that supports economic growth, “Canadians understand that to rise above 400,000 newcomers “We need newcomers to help ence.” diversity, and helps build vibrant, most Canadians have come from per year [starting] next year, the our economy bounce back after “So we still need immigra- dynamic and inclusive communi- another place, that new Canadi- federal government first plans to the pandemic, and address the tion even though there’s a high ties.” ans contribute to the economy, invest $72.1-million in a modern, stark demographic challenges we rate of unemployment, and that’s “Immigrants play an important and that we need new Canadians digital platform for receiving face with an aging population,” something we hear a lot,” said Ms. role in driving Canada’s econom- in order to stay prosperous,” said and processing immigration wrote Mr. Cohen in an emailed Normandin. ic growth, contributing to half Mr. Nanos. “What we found, in the applications,” according to Mr. response to The Hill Times. “Put [email protected] of the average real GDP growth specific research that we’ve most Singer. simply: immigrants create jobs.” The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 31 News Why the Liberals keep putting off the gun marking regulations

Public Safety Public Safety Minister Minister Bill Blair is the Bill Blair announced latest in a long line of on Nov. 30 that his Liberal and government was Conservative public safety again deferring the ministers who have so Firearms Marking far proven unable to fix Regulations, likely the Firearms Marking until after the next Regulations. election. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Continued from page 1 Meade its own bureaucrats, say lobbyists for gun owners and retailers. Mr. Blair (Scarborough South- west, Ont.) announced that day that his government would be deferring the entrance into force of the Firearms Marking Regula- tions from Dec. 1 of this year to the same date in 2023. That will likely push the issue until after Mr. Blair and the Liberals contest the next election. those manufacturers won’t likely Canadian Firearms Registry, ing on the 2015 Liberal campaign because they would be ineffective Mr. Blair’s office said he was change their production lines to which was widely unpopular in promise, and possibly abandoning in Canada without a costly gun deferring the regulations because, satisfy the new marking rules for rural areas and was abolished by the UN Firearms Convention. registry. If the Liberals are really as they are written, they would the small Canadian market, she former prime minister Stephen “They don’t ever want to look committed to implementing these be “ineffective” at helping law said. Canadian importers and Harper. like they are easing up on regula- regulations, then they will have enforcement to trace illegal guns retailers don’t have the tools, ex- Implementing the Firearms tions surrounding firearms,” said to explain to Canadians that they without better national records of pertise, or budgets to modify the Marking Regulations as written Tracey Wilson, a spokesperson plan to bring back the costly and gun ownership and importation. guns once they have crossed the may hurt firearms retailers and for the Canadian Coalition for ineffective long-gun registry,” said The statement said the govern- border, she said. importers, may not help police, Firearm Rights, a group that lob- the statement from Ms. Stubbs. ment needed more time to consult Law enforcement agencies and might also increase the pres- bies on behalf of gun owners. Several Liberal MPs represent- with stakeholders on the matter. support the implementation of sure on Liberal MPs representing Nearly all of the guns sold ing rural ridings did not respond The government has been the regulations, as another tool rural ridings where firearms own- in Canada are manufactured in to interview requests about the working on this issue since 2004, to help them track the source of ers are influential. One Liberal the United States, and they are Firearms Marking Regulations. and the regulations have now guns used in crimes in Canada. MP told The Hill Times in 2018 already marked with the name Further complicating the mat- been deferred nine times by suc- Bringing into force the regula- that the government’s compre- of the manufacturer and a serial ter are some yet-to-be imple- cessive Liberal and Conservative tions would also allow the Liber- hensive firearms bill was “scaring number, said Ms. de Groot. Police mented requirements under the governments since they were als to ratify the UN Firearms the hell out of the Liberal caucus,” can use that information to track Liberals’ 2018 gun control legisla- introduced in 2004. The Liberals Protocol, guns back to tion, which would require gun campaigned in 2015 on a promise which Canada Conservative their point retailers to keep records of who to “immediately” implement the signed back MP Shannon of import they sell which guns to—many regulations, but then deferred in 2002, Stubbs is her without any already do—and would require them again several times, includ- and which party’s public additional the government to begin tracking ing in 2017, 2018, and on Nov. 30. requires those safety critic. markings, she gun sales between individuals as The Liberals dropped their prom- markings. She says the said. well. It’s not clear whether those ise to deal with those regulations However, Conservatives Conserva- measures would provide police in their 2019 election platform. law enforce- do not support tive MP Shan- with enough information to make The regulations would require ment wouldn’t implementing non Stubbs use of the additional markings. the make, serial number, and be able to the Firearms (Lakeland, Wendy Cukier, the president the letters “CA” or “Canada” to be make use of Marking Alta.), her of the Coalition For Gun Control, permanently etched onto any fire- the new mark- Regulations. party’s public said the proposed Marking Regu- arms imported into Canada, as ings proposed The Hill Times safety critic, lations are a “core piece of the re- well as two digits showing their in the regula- photograph by said in an gime to control the illicit trade in year of import. tions without Andrew Meade emailed state- firearms,” but said they would not The repeatedly-deferred a comprehen- ment to The be useful without the system for regulations are not a top priority sive firearms Hill Times that tracking gun sales—though that for some of the pro-gun control registry, one her caucus system, as proposed in the Liberal advocacy groups working in that includes does not sup- legislation, would not track the Canada, their executives told The other in- port imple- actual weapons being sold. Hill Times, but they are a very formation menting the Ms. de Groot said that her important issue for gun retail- police could regulations. organization has proposed a solu- ers, who fear the government compare to “Firearms tion to the government that she will implement them as they are the markings already carry believes would allow it to satisfy currently written, and effectively on the guns, unique identi- the UN Firearms Protocol criteria cut off their access to most of the according to the government, and the Liberals lost 20 seats in fication numbers and Canada has without hurting gun retailers. guns that they sell. which laid out its rationale in the rural or partly rural ridings in some of the most stringent laws She also said that she believed “It would decimate the Ca- Canada Gazette in 2018 after the the last election. The Conserva- in the world governing firearms that senior public servants work- nadian business,” said Alison de last deferral of these regulations. tives have repeatedly attacked the identification,” she wrote. ing on the file were “not being Groot, the managing director of Prime Minister Justin Liberal gun control agenda, and “Despite promising ‘immediate’ allowed to work with us for politi- the Canadian Sporting Arms & Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) gov- warned that the Liberals will re- implementation of these regula- cal reasons,” and that “political Ammunition Association, a lobby ernment has made gun control introduce the Firearms Registry tions when they were elected in will” was the primary obstacle to group for gun retailers. one of its signature policy issues, through the “back door.” 2015, the Liberals recently de- fixing the regulations. Nearly all of the guns sold in but has also pledged repeatedly Scrapping the regulations alto- layed them again, as governments [email protected] Canada are made in the U.S., but not to bring back the now-defunct gether, however, would mean reneg- have done for the past 16 years, The Hill Times 32 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News

tin, the former head of Canada’s Pollster Greg Lyle of Innova- Trudeau needs strong NATO mission in Iraq, to lead the tive Research said that it is a country’s vaccine rollout via a mistake for senior government Health Canada National Opera- ministers to give out different tions Centre. dates for the vaccine’s arrival, messaging, ‘coherent plan’ for Last week, The Canadian Press and that ministers should provide reported that the military official- a timeline only if and when they ly received the orders to prepare have reliable information. Mr. rollout of vaccine, or he could for the distribution of the CO- Lyle said that Canadians’ frustra- VID-19 vaccine in the country two tion with the delay in getting the weeks ago, but planning has been vaccine is not reflected in the under way for months. The offi- polls right now, but said things suffer political consequences, cial order includes the possibility will change soon after other that the military may have to pick countries’ populations start to get up and transport the vaccine from immunized. the U.S. and European countries The government will face a say veteran political players to Canada. At a media briefing significant problem if another last week, Mr. Fortin said that dry country that does not have the runs to administer the vaccine capacity to manufacture a vac- ing questions about why Canada that the vaccine supply will be will start this week, adding that cine is able to negotiate access to ‘If people aren’t has lagged behind other countries limited when it first becomes vaccines could be delivered to a vaccine before Canada, he said. in accessing the vaccine when available, and will be provided distribution points as early as late Mr. Lyle said that at the mo- getting needles in the government has invested only to high-priority groups, such December. ment, Canadians are more wor- their arms by the hundreds of millions of dollars as seniors living in long-term Some political strategists told ried about lockdowns or other to improve domestic production care homes, front-line health-care The Hill Times last week that if immediate challenges posed by end of January, facilities. They also demand that workers, and those with underly- the Trudeau government fails to COVID-19, such as what’s causing the prime minister provide a spe- ing health conditions, among oth- provide a vaccine to Canadians at the spread of the virus; what the it’s going to be the cific timeline for when Canadians ers. He said if everything worked the same time as it becomes avail- government is doing to protect se- would get access to a vaccine. out as expected, six million doses able in the United States or other niors in long-term care facilities; most dangerous Making matters more com- could become available by March, countries, it could politically hurt how quickly can we get a faster plicated, Mr. Trudeau, Deputy but warned this is an optimistic the government. COVID-19 test; and what the political issue this Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland projection. “If people aren’t getting nee- government is doing to enforce government’s ever (University-Rosedale, Ont.), In- A spokesman for Innovation dles in their arms by the end of quarantine. He said that these are tergovernmental Affairs Minister Minister Navdeep Bains (Missis- January, it’s going to be the most the factors that will determine dealt with, by far, Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, whether an average person, and N.B.), and deputy chief public especially a vulnerable person, without question,’ health officer Dr. Howard Njoo Prime will live or die, and Canadians are have all suggested different dates Minister paying close attention to at this says Scott Reid, a for the availability of a vaccine, Justin time. top Liberal official ranging from January to June. Trudeau, “COVID-19 is a host of issues, As of deadline last week, there pictured it’s no one thing,” said Mr. Lyle. in the Paul Martin were 389,775 confirmed cases of on Nov. “Do we have the right restrictions COVID-19 in Canada resulting in 24, 2020, in place? Do we have enough government. 12,325 deaths, according to Public in Ottawa. restrictions? How are we doing Health Agency of Canada. The Hill in terms of testing? How are we In response to questions about Continued from page 1 Times doing on reporting on testing? when the vaccine will be made photograph All those sorts of questions, those is creating “confusion” and a available to Canadians last week, by Andrew things are much more pressing negative perception about the a spokesperson for Health Minis- Meade … people are sort of taking it on government’s management of the ter Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay- faith that the government will pandemic, which could seriously Superior North, Ont.) referred to do all it can to get the vaccine as hurt the Liberals in the coming the answer provided by a senior soon as it can. And it’s just not months, they said. Public Services and Procurement the first thing to worry about, the “This is a critical challenge Canada official, two weeks ago, first thing to worry about is the in terms of communications, that the vaccines will start arriv- immediate outbreak.” and messaging, and it will all be ing in Canada by March of next An Angus Reid Institute poll judged by the results, which we year. released last week suggested that will know by March, how things “In terms of timelines, the first as the Americans and Britons are are going,” said Ekos Research deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines getting ready to get inoculated for president Frank Graves in an are anticipated to start in the first COVID-19, “lingering questions interview with The Hill Times. quarter of 2021,” Arianne Reza, over when they themselves will “But, right now, we need to Assistant Deputy Minister at be immunized are having a nega- create a sense of coherence, that PSPC said at a technical briefing tive impact on how they perceive there is a plan, that it is orderly, for reporters on Nov. 26. the federal government’s manage- and that this is not being driven Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief sauga-Malton, Ont.) said in an dangerous political issue this ment of the pandemic.” by media, or even opposition medical adviser to Health email to The Hill Times that when government’s ever dealt with, by The poll released on Dec. queries, this is being driven by Canada’s deputy minister, told the pandemic first started, Can- far without question,” said Liberal 3 revealed that 56 per cent of science and reason, and that it CBC’s The Current last week ada did not have the capacity to political insider Scott Reid in the Canadians—a 10-point drop com- will work out,” he said. that Canada could also approve produce a large-scale COVID-19 popular political podcast called pared to last quarter— think the Late last month, Prime Minis- a COVID-19 vaccine in a week to vaccine. Recognizing this fact, he The Herle Burly last week. government has done a good job ter Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) said 10 days. said, the government has invested “And I would be terrified, if I in handling the pandemic. that Canada would be behind In response to opposition or has made announcements to were them, about getting pushed Pollster Nik Nanos of Nanos the U.S., the U.K., and Germany questions about why Canada has invest $534-million to expand the into an election,”said Mr. Reid, Research told The Hill Times that in getting the COVID-19 vac- not produced its own vaccine domestic production capacity. who in the past served as direc- if Canada is behind in getting the cine. Later, Reuters reported that at the same time when some of “Our government is working on tor of communications to former vaccine, the public’s reaction will Mexico would also likely start to the other G7 countries have, Mr. all fronts to deliver for Canadians prime minister Paul Martin. depend chiefly on whether the immunize this month, depending Trudeau has said that it’s because safe and effective treatments and According to a Leger poll pandemic is under control or not, on the approval of the vaccine of the lack of domestic production vaccines against COVID-19,” said released last week, 37 per cent and how far behind Canada is, there. The U.S., U.K., and Germa- facilities. He said that vaccine John Power, a senior communica- of Canadians said that they were compared to other countries that ny are also expected to soon start doses would start to arrive in tions adviser to Mr. Bains. “This in- very concerned that Canada would have the vaccine. immunizing their citizens. the early months of 2021, but did cludes investing in and scaling up not get the vaccine at the same “If the pandemic is seen to Last week, the U.K. approved a not provide any specific time- Canadian vaccine manufacturing time as the U.S. or other countries. be under control in Canada, vaccine and health-care workers line. The government has signed capabilities, investing in Canadian However, 48 per cent said that they then there probably won’t be could start to use it for emergency contracts for hundreds of millions vaccine and therapeutic candidates were not overly concerned about significant negative fallout,” said purposes as early as this week. of doses with five multinational as part of Canada’s contribution to Canada getting a vaccine later than Mr. Nanos, chief data scientist for The U.S. is also likely to approve pharmaceutical companies. Mr. the global effort to fight COVID-19, other countries. An Abacus Data Nanos Research. “If there’s a third a vaccine this week and the im- Trudeau also pointed out that the and procuring the most promising poll suggested last week that 76 per wave, and we’re late, there will be munization process could start as government has already invested international candidates.” cent of Canadians would be satis- political hell to pay, people will early as Dec. 12. An estimated 20 hundreds of millions of dollars to Mr. Trudeau told reporters on fied if they got a vaccine within a be very upset, especially if there’s million Americans are expected to ensure that Canada will have a Nov. 27 that there are “very good couple of months after it becomes unnecessary deaths, because of a be inoculated next month, and 30 domestic vaccine production ca- chances” for most Canadians to available in other countries. The late vaccine in Canada. So a lot of million every subsequent month. pacity, in case another pandemic be vaccinated by September, “if other 24 per cent said that they it will have to do with the context During these developments, hit Canada in future. things go well.” would be angry if people in other of the spring of 2021.” the opposition parties and politi- In the Nov. 26 technical brief- He also announced the ap- countries were able to get the vac- [email protected] cal commentators have been rais- ing to reporters, Dr. Njoo said pointment of Maj.-Gen. Dany For- cine before Canada. The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 33 News Some politicos not ruling out an election before March, others predict a spring election

Another factor is the un- gardless of when the vote happens, On Twitter, NDP Leader Jagmeet accident or a major miscalcula- It’s in the best interest certainty about the state of the it will be a confidence vote. If the Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.) also tion from the opposition side. economy next year, and how long government loses this vote, it will blasted the federal government: “It makes no sense for them of the Bloc and NDP not it will take to recover from the automatically trigger an election. “The Liberals started promis- [Bloc Québécois] to take a chance to defeat the Liberals, negative impacts of COVID-19 According to a recent poll ing child care almost 30 years ago. on losing seats or losing a minor- after the pandemic is over. If by Ekos Research, the Liberals Today, we watched them break ity,” said Mr. Lyle. “Either of those as it’s a minority the economy deteriorated even were leading with the support of their promise for accessible & would be a bad outcome for them, further, it could mean a higher 36.3 per cent of Canadians, fol- affordable child care once again,” the best outcome for them would government and both unemployment rate, or there lowed by the Conservatives with Mr. Singh wrote on Nov. 30. be the outcome they have right might be other challenges that 30.2 per cent. The NDP had the “Women disproportionately now, which is to be a significant parties can score arise, which would make it very support of 14.6 per cent, and the lost their jobs during the pandem- force [in a] minority government. difficult for an incumbent govern- Greens 8.8 per cent. The poll of ic and without affordable child- And the same thing with the NDP, some wins for their ment to get re-elected. 3,269 Canadians was conducted care, they can’t go back to work.” they’re not gonna go from their respective party bases From the opposition parties’ from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 and had a Bloc MP Alain Therrien (La current situation to any majority perspective, Mr. Nanos said, the margin of error of plus or minus Prairie, Que.) said in the House that government in the next election. by working with the strategy should be to let the gov- 1.71 percentage points. his party was disappointed with Their best chance is to be a signifi- ernment survive until it shuts off cant force [in a minority], which is governing party, says the emergency economic support The opposition what they have right now. And they measures that were put in place parties have have no money to run an election, Innovative Research to help individuals and businesses expressed and I’m sure that their candidate to deal with the negative impact their search has barely begun.” pollster Greg Lyle. of COVID-19. dissatisfaction In his view, Mr. Lyle said that the Mr. Nanos said that there’s with the spring is probably the first realistic Continued from page 1 never a good time for an election Justin Trudeau window when an election could as there are always pros and cons government's happen. He said that once Canadi- for their vote in the House, not to for going to the polls at any time. fall economic ans have been vaccinated against cause an election. He added that it’s not unusual for statement, but COVID-19, and the immediate “An election is always like a provincial and federal govern- it's unclear threat from the pandemic is over, trip to the dentist,” said Nik Na- ments to have a winter election. if they will Mr. Trudeau can go to the Governor nos, chief data scientist for Nanos Mr. Nanos cited the example vote together General asking for an election on Research, in an interview with of the 2006 federal election, when to defeat the the grounds that the state of the The Hill Times. “It’s not popular, the writ was dropped in Novem- government. economy is totally different from but it’s necessary.” ber and the election took place in The Hill Times when he won the 2019 election, and In a minority government, January. He also pointed to last photograph by that he needs a fresh mandate. an election could happen one of month’s U.S. presidential and Andrew Meade Pollster Frank Graves of Ekos the two ways—either the prime congressional elections, which Research agreed with Mr. Lyle’s as- minister goes to the Governor happened right in the middle of sessment that an election is unlike- General and asks for one, or the the pandemic, but still had a very ly until the spring. He explained opposition parties defeat the high rates of voter participation. In a statement issued on Nov. the Economic Statement because that based on his polling, the Liber- government in the House of Com- As of last week there were more 30, Conservative Leader Erin the federal government has not als are in the majority territory, and mons. In this Parliament, all three than 14 million confirmed cases O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) blasted increased healthcare transfers to it’s not in the interest of opposition major opposition parties in the of COVID-19 in the U.S. resulting the government for failing to provinces. He said that the province parties to defeat the government. House will have to vote together in more than 276,000 deaths. properly handle the health and of Quebec has a shortfall of $3-bil- The Liberals, being the governing to defeat the government. New Brunswick, Saskatch- economic affects of COVID-19. lion because of COVID-19, and party, would not call an election in The Liberals have 155 MPs in ewan and British Columbia have “The truth is the Liberals’ the federal government should be the midst of a once-in-a-century the 338-seat House of Commons. had provincial elections recently economic response has been er- providing this support to Quebec. public health emergency. They need support from one of as well. The minority govern- ratic and confused. Millions more “This government has presented “Whether it’s a good time to the three other recognized parties ments of the New Brunswick Canadians were put on the CERB an economic update and proposed have election in the midst of a in the House to get legislation Progressive Conservatives and than necessary when their jobs a stimulus plan, but it has pro- absolutely critical public health passed. The Conservatives have British Columbia’s New Demo- could have been maintained if the posed nothing for health transfers, crisis? I don’t see what the upside 121 MPs, the Bloc Québécois has crats were converted to majority Liberals had implemented a wage even though an increase in those is for anybody except the Liber- 32, and the NDP 24. The Greens, governments. The Saskatchewan subsidy earlier,” said Mr. O’Toole. transfers is the main demand of als. And they are not going to call which do not have party status Party, which held a majority “The Canadian economy was the provinces and Quebec,” said an election now. I think they will in the House, have three seats, government, was re-elected with already showing serious signs of Mr. Therein. “The government has wait, you probably will see an and there are three Independent a majority. weakness before the pandemic no regard whatsoever for what the election in spring.” MPs. In the 338 member House, a “The United States just fin- hit. Ignoring our warnings, the provinces and Quebec are going Rookie Liberal MP Marcus simple majority requires 170 votes. ished an election, other major Liberals took pride in running through right now.” Powlowski (Thunder Bay-Rainy After last week’s fall economic democracies have had elections, large structural deficits and rais- Pollster Greg Lyle of Innova- River, Ont.) said that he did not statement by Finance Minister we’ve had a number of provincial ing taxes in good economic times. tive Research said that he does see anything in the Fall Economic Chrystia Freeland (University- elections,” said Mr. Nanos. “So to Now, Justin Trudeau is running a not believe that an election will Statement over which the opposi- Rosedale, Ont.), all three major point to the pandemic as a reason historic deficit of almost $400 bil- happen before spring. He said tion parties would lose confi- federal parties said that they were never to have an election, I’m not lion, and still leaving millions of that the Christmas season has dence in the government. He said dissatisfied with the government’s sure how realistic that is.” Canadians behind.” already started and any party that that an election in the midst of long awaited spending plan, In talking to reporters on Tues- NDP MP Peter Julian (New triggers an election in the midst COVID-19 will be very unhelpful, which contained $25-billion worth day, Dec. 1, Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.), his of the second wave will be pun- and it’s important that all parties of new spending measures. But it Que.) said that he does not want party’s finance critic, also indicat- ished. Mr. Lyle pointed out that work together to resolve this remains to be seen if the opposi- a winter election and that he’s ed his party’s unhappiness with the NDP is far from ready from a public health crisis. He said that tion parties are unhappy enough “reasonably confident” that the op- the government’s economic state- financial and organizational point the speculation about the timing to vote down the government. position parties don’t want one. ment. In offering his criticism of of view, and it would be a major of the next election will continue Mr. Nanos said if the Liberals “This is a Fall Economic the fiscal update in the House on political mistake for them to vote until there’s an election, as it’s a want to convert their minority Statement, this is an economic Nov, 30, Mr. Julian said that the with other opposition parties to minority government and, theo- status into a majority, the best [measure] that of course will be government should commit to defeat the government and trigger retically speaking, an election time for them to go to the polls a matter of confidence, but I am continue the emergency support an election. In the case of Bloc could happen at any time. is before March of next year. He reasonably confident that none of measures on a long-term basis. Québécois, he said the best case “That’s what the opposition does said the Liberal Party’s odds of the opposition parties wants an “This is where my disappoint- scenario in the next election for and that’s what politics is all about,” increasing their seat count would election right now,” Mr. Trudeau ment lies, and our disappoint- the Quebec-based party would be said Mr. Powlowski with a chuckle, be better while the stimulus told reporters. ment, with the Fall Economic to win as many seats as they have commenting on the opposition par- money worth billions of dollars “We certainly don’t want one. Statement,” said Mr. Julian in the now, which makes it pointless for ties’ expression of dissatisfaction that started this March is flowing. We want to get these supports out House. “We believe that those sup- them to defeat the government. with the Economic Statement. By March 2021, Mr. Nanos said, to Canadians, and there are cer- ports need to be continued. There He also said the NDP and In an interview with The Hill individual Canadians and busi- tainly things in this Fall Economic needs to be a sense that all Cana- the Bloc are more influential Times, Conservative MP Larry nesses will start to realize the true Statement that every party should dians matter, that we can all come in a minority government, as Maguire (Brandon-Souris, Man.) economic impact of COVID-19 on be able to support, in terms of through this pandemic, and that, compared to a possible scenario said that his party was still ex- their lives, and will be receiving a helping Canadians.” coming out of the pandemic, we under which the Liberals or the amining how to vote on the Fall tax bill, and many Canadians may By deadline last week, a date can actually put in place a very Conservatives win a majority. Mr. Economic Statement. have to return the CERB money had not been set for a vote on the solid foundation for Canadians in Lyle said that if there’s a winter [email protected] that they thought they deserved. Fall Economic Statement, but re- the future.” election, it will be because of an The Hill Times 34 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES News ‘There is no playbook in dealing with the pandemic’: how StatsCan has mobilized around urgent COVID-19 data collection

Minister of “For instance, when we look at Senior management Innovation, socio-economic outcomes of wom- Science and en, we cannot just look at women, within Statistics Industry Navdeep because socio-economic outcomes Canada took ‘calculated Bains at a press are tied very closely together with conference in age, because age is a proxy for risks and made some West Block on lifecycle,” said Ms. Chui. “So we Nov. 17, 2020. have to look at the combinations tough choices’ to adapt Minister Bains has of sex and age, and we can still been tasked with drill further [into regions]. Then the agency’s response preparing for the you can further drill into women to urgent data needs, long-form census in their prime working age, who in 2021, including are members of a visible minority.” according to Tina the collection “The census is such a big data and analysis of source that it will allow us to drill Chui, acting director disaggregated down into that level of detail, data, according while also allowing us to protect of diversity and social to his mandate the privacy and confidentiality of letter from Prime respondents,” said Ms. Chui. statistics at the agency. Minister Justin According to the department, Trudeau. The Hill the census will contain new content BY MIKE LAPOINTE Times photograph to better identify individuals’ sex at by Andrew Meade birth, gender, veteran status, religion, ith the majority of people registered members of Métis orga- ing in between April 3 and April Statistics Canada’s role within ment rate of those designated at Statistics Canada still nization or settlements, as well as W 24, followed by a focus on the that strategy is to “support the data as a visible minority decreased working from home amid the CO- those enrolled under or a beneficiary impacts of the pandemic on post- and evidence pillar,” said Ms. Chui. 1.5 per cent to 10.2 per cent in VID-19 pandemic, the agency has of an Inuit lands claim agreement. secondary students from April 19 “Fast forward to the pandemic: we November. been working to become more ag- to May 1. do need this real-time [data], we Beginning in July, the survey ile in its collection of disaggregat- The focus then shifted to the had to mobilize very quickly, so now includes a question asking Pandemic has ed data and the disproportionate collection of data surrounding how can we leverage the existing respondents to report the popula- effects of the crisis on vulnerable highlighted ‘pre-existing the mental health of Canadians work to monitor how Canadians tion groups to which they belong. communities, according to Tina from April 24 to May 11; Cana- are dealing with the pandemic?” Possible responses, which are inequalities in our Chui, acting director of diversity dians’ perceptions of personal Calling the agency’s Labour the same as in the 2016 census, and social statistics. society,’ says expert safety from May 12 to May 25; Force Survey their “mission critical include, White, South Asian Malinda Smith, a professor at “There is no playbook in trust in government, public health program,” Ms. Chui said new ques- (e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri the University of Alberta who has dealing with the pandemic,” said authorities and businesses from tions have been recently added to Lankan), Chinese, Black, Filipino, also sat on Statistics Canada’s Ms. Chui. “I think we’ve become May 26 to June 8; as well as the get a better sense for the impact Arab, Latin American, Southeast Expert Working Group on Black a lot more agile, and StatsCan impact of COVID-19 on Canadian on visible minority populations. Asian (e.g., Vietnamese, Cambo- Communities in Canada, told has been undergoing moderniza- families and children from June 9 The Hill Times that the pandemic tion for a number of years, which to June 22. has highlighted the pre-existing allowed us to springboard into University Most recently, crowdsourcing inequalities in our society, and more innovative ways of doing of Alberta was used to analyze the impacts “aggravated them for people who things.” professor of the pandemic on Canadians are on the front lines, people you The impact of the pandemic Malinda Smith living with long-term conditions see were marginalized, but now has been spread unevenly across says ‘what and disabilities from June 23 to we recognize are essential.” the Canadian population, par- Statistics July 6, finishing with a push to There was a need for bet- ticularly pertaining to people Canada can do determine Canadians’ experienc- ter race-based data prior to the from vulnerable communities and from a national es of discrimination from August pandemic in relation to policing, marginalized groups. point of view is 4 to August 18. according to Prof. Smith—a need “Because of that, we have re- provide clear Web panels have also been that has been amplified as result ally mobilized to collect as much categories and used from March 29 through of the pandemic. information as possible,” said Ms. a coherent to September 20 to collect data “What this has all shown is Chui. “We have been investing our strategy where around the impacts of the pan- that across the country, across efforts in a number of modern- we have demic, resuming economic and the provinces, is very uneven data ization initiatives for a number data that is social activities, information collection, and what Statistics of years already, which actually collected and sources consulted by Canadians, Canada can do from a national helped us to prepare for the pan- comparable.’ as well as technology use and point of view is provide clear cat- demic response.” Photograph cyber security. egories and a coherent strategy Ms. Chui said that during the courtesy of From Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, the where we have data that is col- initial stages of the pandemic, Malinda Smith agency will be looking into lected and comparable.” senior management within Statis- substance use and stigmatization “And this is as, if not more tics Canada took “calculated risks within the context of the pan- “That’s how we can find dian, Laotian, Thai), West Asian important—the information will and made some tough choices” to demic as well. monthly data of COVID on (e.g., Iranian, Afghan), Korean, be able to help evaluate initiatives adapt the agency’s response to “We really used those two employment,” said Ms. Chui. Japanese, or Other, according to and programs and policies to assess urgent data needs, including ev- sources in the last few months to “Unfortunately we’re still deep Statistics Canada’s website. their differential impact, and then to erything from information around collect very timely information,” in the second wave, but when design interventions that will prop- mental health to the impact on said Ms. Chui. “Since the lockdown we’re going through the recovery, erly address them,” said Prof. Smith. businesses to enable people to Long-form census in mid-March, we worked very certain communities will have a “Right now, a once-size-fits-all better navigate the impact of the quickly to put some new surveys lot more to gain back, so with the scheduled for 2021 strategy doesn’t allow you to do damage. through crowdsource and web monthly survey, we’ll be able to In his mandate letter from that, and the uneven data collec- panel methods to collect data.” better monitor the situation.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tion doesn’t allow you to even Crowdsourcing, According to the most recent (Papineau, Que.) office, Minister of identify hotspots,” said Prof. Smith. web panels used for ‘We had to mobilize very Labour Force Survey that reflects Innovation, Science and Industry “My view is that even though labour market conditions as of Navdeep Bains is responsible for this is framed as an anti-racism COVID-19 data collection quickly’ the week of Nov. 8 to 14, growth preparing for the long-form census strategy, it might just as well be The agency has engaged in a The federal government in- was “variable across demographic in 2021, including the collection framed in terms of a systematic number of crowdsourcing pushes troduced its anti-racism strategy groups.” and analysis of disaggregated data. commitment to what an equitable, throughout the pandemic, with in June 2019, designed to unroll Among Canadians aged 15 Ms. Chui said the census is inclusive society looks like.” first results on the impacts of from 2019 to 2022 at the cost of to 69, according to the report re- the government’s “best source for [email protected] COVID-19 on Canadians com- $45-million. leased on Dec. 4, the unemploy- disaggregated data.” The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 35 News Feds’ mid-year revenue fell by nearly 22 per cent during pandemic

The government is significantly during the pandemic. The 21.5 per cent decrease from one spring and expecting to earn almost summer to the next represents a loss of about $35-billion, according to the Sep- $60-billion less this tember issue of Finance Canada’s Fiscal Monitor. year than it did last, as it The government expects to collect $275-billion in revenue in the 2020-21 fiscal continues to spend billions year, down from $334-billion last year. The in borrowed money to keep federal government’s fiscal year begins on Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are responsible April 1, which this year happened to align for the federal government's spending. They released several documents at the end of November the economy afloat. closely with the beginning of major eco- detailing government spending for last year, this year, and projections for future years. The Hill nomic disruption caused by the COVID-19 Times photographs by Andrew Meade pandemic. Continued from page 1 The Fall Economic Statement projected bailout, according to the Fall Economic government’s spending for the 2019-20 the COVID-19 pandemic than it did dur- that revenue from personal income taxes Statement. fiscal year. ing the same period last year, a recently would only decrease by 3.3 per cent, or The government projected in the Fall The Public Accounts showed the released document from Finance Canada about $5.5-billion, in 2020-21 compared to Economic Statement that its revenues government ran a $39-billion deficit last shows. the year previous. Personal incomes were will rebound to $336-billion in the 2021- year, up from a $14-billion deficit the year 22 fiscal year, and continue before. growing for each of the four The Public Accounts document for last following years. year included new information on how the budgetary balance is affected by net actuarial losses, which are changes to how Debt charges much the government may have to pay to expected to stay stable fund its employee pensions and benefits. through 2025-26 According to Treasury Board documents, Thanks largely to low those liabilities can vary substantially interest rates on government from year to year, and breaking them out bonds, the government’s bill from the budgetary balance figures gives for carrying the fast-growing a better picture of how much government national debt was $800-mil- program spending is contributing to a lion lower for April through deficit or surplus. September than it was for Excluding net actuarial losses, last the same period last year, year’s budget deficit was $29-billion, up according to the Fiscal Moni- from less than $6-billion the year before. tor. The government’s Fall The Public Accounts show that the Economic Statement project- highest spending government minis- ed that public debt charges tries were Families, Children and Social would fall by $5-billion for Development, under former minister Jean the whole of 2020-21, down Yves-Duclos and current minister Ahmed A snapshot of part of the government’s fiscal projections in the Fall Economic Statement released on Nov. 30. Net to $20-billion from $25-bil- Hussen, which spent more than $72-bil- actuarial losses refer to changes in the government’s pension and employee benefit obligations from previous years. lion last year. lion last year; Finance, which under former The Fall Economic State- minister Bill Morneau spent $99-billion; and Defence under Harjit Sajjan, which The government’s borrowing and propped up during the pandemic by gov- ment projected that public debt charges would not rise above last spent $24-billion. spending during the pandemic has attract- ernment transfers that included more than Government transfer payments ac- ed considerable scrutiny, as the federal def- $80-billion spent on the Canada Emergen- year’s $24-billion total until 2023-24, and would amount to a similar percentage of counted for a large portion of government icit has swelled to a projected $382-billion cy Response Benefit. spending: benefits for children, retirees, un- for the current fiscal year. Most of that debt Corporate revenues were hit harder Canada’s gross domestic product—just over one per cent—through 2025-26. By employed people, transfers to other levels of was taken on to fund support programs for by the pandemic, resulting in a projected government, and other transfers accounted businesses and individuals affected by the corporate tax revenue decrease of 22 per then, federal net debt is projected to reach nearly $1.5-trillion, up from $813-billion for $243-billion in government spending, up pandemic, but Finance Minister Chrystia cent this fiscal year, a loss of $11-billion. from $225-billion the year prior. Freeland (University—Rosedale, Ont.) GST revenues are projected to fall by 22 last year and $1.2-trillion by the end of this year. The government spent a total of promised an additional stimulus package per cent as well, a loss of another $8-bil- $363-billion last year, excluding net actuar- worth between $70- and $100-billion over lion. Enterprise Crown Corporations, ial losses of almost $11-billion, but includ- three years in her Fall Economic Statement some of which have been used to channel Treasury Board breaks out ing $25-billion spent to service the national on Nov. 30. money into the economy during the pan- pension liability changes from debt. The year prior, the government spent The government’s revenues, however, demic, are projected to collect $25-billion $338-billion, excluding more than $8-bil- have also decreased as businesses have less revenue than last year; that decrease budget balance figures lion in net actuarial losses, and including been forced to close their doors to stem the is largely a result of loan losses, and of The federal Treasury Board also $23-billion in debt payments. spread of the virus, Canadians have been premiums paid on government debt by the released the Public Accounts of Canada [email protected] laid off, and economic activity has slowed Bank of Canada as part of the pandemic on Nov. 30, which reported details of the The Hill Times

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300-person Statistics Canada of- one-in-five “for visible minority ‘Canadian-style systemic fice. Ms. Rooney began working participation government-wide” for the agency in 2010, and in ad- within the next five years. dition to being denied promotions The most recent report on em- and raises, said, according to the ployment equity in the core public statement of claim, she was subject service, covering the 2018-19 fiscal racism’: Black public to comments “regarding [her] hair, year, said that of the 203,286 em- [her] skin being too fair to have ployees tallied in March 2019, 54.48 two Black parents, [colleagues] per cent were women (compared confirming with [her] if it is okay to to an estimated workforce avail- servants file suit against say the ‘N’ word,” and more. ability of 52.7 per cent), 5.1 per cent Other plaintiffs, such as Yonita were Indigenous persons (against Parkes, said that after complain- an estimated workforce availability ing about race-related treatment of four per cent), 5.2 per cent were federal government by co-workers, the perpetrators people with disabilities (compared were shuffled out laterally instead to nine per cent workforce avail- of being held accountable, while ability), and 16.7 per cent were vis- Proposed class- “In particular, the act fails to (Québec, Que.) told The Hill Times she was ostracized. ible minorities (compared to 15.3 break down the category of vis- that “the fact that Black employ- Daniel Malcolm highlighted in per cent). According to the report, action lawsuit alleges ible minorities and thus ignores ees tell us they are unable to be the statement of claim that Black 19 per cent of those who identify the unique, invisible, and system- at their full potential is something employees like himself can be as a visible minority in the public Canada’s application ic racism faced by Black employ- of great concern to us. I will overlooked for permanent roles, service are Black. of the Employment ees relative to other disadvan- certainly address those concerns despite acting in them for some Since its establishment in late taged groups that are covered by and make sure that every federal time, because management can 2017, the Federal Black Employee Equity Act violates the categories established by the employee, including Black em- set their own criteria to make Caucus has been pushing to get act,” the statement of claim said, ployees, has the ability to make their preferred appointments disaggregated employment equity the Charter equality adding that decisions on hiring the fullest impact on our society.” from candidate pools, despite data collected so that employees, and promotions are governed by qualification or competition score. employers, and policy-makers can rights of Black Alain Babineau—a 28-year all understand the landscape for enabling legislation for the public Plaintiffs outline alleged service, and not subject to union RCMP veteran who served on the Black federal bureaucrats, and employees. grievance. mistreatment, exclusion protection detail for prime minis- to provide an element of support By not hiring and promoting One of the representative ters Jean Chrétien, Stephen Harp- and unity for Black employees BY CHARELLE EVELYN Black employees in a manner pro- plaintiffs, Nicholas Marcus er, and Justin Trudeau (Papineau, who are facing harassment and portional to their numbers in the Thompson, a union leader who Que.) before leaving the force in discrimination in the workplace. he Canadian government has public service or the overall popu- was named activist of the year September 2016—alleges in the Former senator Donald Oliver Tfailed to uphold the Charter lation or to a degree consistent in January by the Public Service statement that his first attempts has long championed the idea of a rights of Black employees in the with the treatment of other visible Alliance of Canada in Toronto, to join the force in the early 1980s new federal government Depart- federal public service, shirking its minority or white public servants, works for the Canada Revenue included being asked “What are ment of Diversity headed by a responsibility to create discrimi- “Canada has treated Black em- Agency (CRA). Mr. Thompson has you going to do if you get called Black deputy minister, and former nation- and harassment-free work- ployees in an adverse differential “repeatedly been denied promo- a ‘nigger?’” during his recruiting Liberal-turned-Independent MP places, and actively excluding manner and has drawn distinc- tions as a consequence of his race interview, and later being racially Celina Caesar-Chavannes intro- Black bureaucrats, allege plaintiffs tions” between Black bureaucrats and due to his advocacy on behalf profiled and falsely characterized duced a private member’s bill in the in a proposed class-action lawsuit. and those of other races. of other Black employees,” the as a drug dealer. Once he made it dying days of the last Parliament to “There has been a de facto prac- Requests for comment from statement of claim alleges. into the force, he was referred to as change the Employment Equity Act. tice of Black employee exclusion the fed- “Black man” instead of his name by The bill called for a requirement of throughout the public service be- eral Attorney Nicholas Marcus Thompson, left, is the head of the the Canada Human Rights Com- cause of the permeation of systemic General’s one of the representative plaintiffs drug section in mission to provide an annual report discrimination through Canada’s Office were in a proposed class-action lawsuit which he worked. to the minister “on the progress institutional structures,” said the referred to against the federal government. “This is the type made by the Government of Canada statement of claim filed with the the Treasury Former senator Donald Oliver, middle, of microaggres- in dismantling systemic barriers Federal Court in Toronto on Dec. 2. Board Secre- has long championed the idea of a sion we endured that prevent members of visible The class action, which has tariat. new federal government Department as Black officers, minorities from being promoted not been certified, is being led “As this of Diversity headed by a Black deputy but we shut our within the federal public service by 12 former and current Black matter is cur- minister, and before leaving politics mouths and and in remedying the disadvantages public servants, who have been rently before former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, endure, on the caused by those barriers.” employed in a variety of federal the courts, right, introduced a bill in the last belief that we There are so few people of departments and agencies, includ- the Treasury Parliament to change the Employment can help to bring colour at the deputy and associate ing the RCMP, Canadian Revenue Board Secre- Equity Act. Photograph courtesy of about change,” he deputy minister level that the gov- Agency, Canadian Human Rights tariat cannot Twitter, The Hill Times file photograph said in the state- ernment won’t release numbers, Commission, Canadian Armed comment on and photograph by Andrew Meade ment. for privacy reasons. Caroline Forces, Statistics Canada, Im- this suit at Bernadeth Xavier, became the first Black migration, Refugees, and Citizen- this time,” said an email from a Betchi, who at woman to work at that level of the ship Canada, and Employment department spokesperson. Mr. Thompson, who ran as an one point was employed by the public service when she was ap- and Social Development Canada. “The government has taken NDP candidate in Don Valley East, Prime Minister’s Office as a com- pointed associate deputy minister The representative plaintiffs, steps to address anti-Black rac- Ont., in 2019, said in the statement munications assistant to Sophie of Immigration, Refugees, and seeking $900-million in damages ism, systemic discrimination, and of claim that Black employees “were Grégoire Trudeau, alleges in the Citizenship Canada in February. on behalf of public servants since injustice across the country. Most ghettoized in the lower ranks” of the statement that her employment at In October, the government 1970 and their families, claim recently, the fall economic state- public service and that “merit was both the CRA and the Canadian awarded a contract worth $164,415 Black employees have been sys- ment committed $12-million over not a guiding principle for project Human Rights Commission ulti- to executive recruitment firm Odg- temically excluded from advance- three years towards a dedicated assignment or advancement.” Preju- mately caused her stress, anxiety, ers Berndtson to “establish and ment within the public service Centre on Diversity and Inclu- dice and indifference that “made the and trauma. “As a consequence maintain on an ongoing basis an in- and that the court should impose sion in the Federal Public Service. world polite, cool, and lonely to the of the experiences of mistreat- ventory of qualified and interested on the government a mandatory This will accelerate the govern- point of permanent exclusion” are ment and Black employee exclu- Black people and other racialized order to implement a “Diversity ment’s commitment to achieving “Canadian-style systemic racism,” sion, [Ms.] Betchi lost faith in the groups, Indigenous people, as well and Promotional Plan for Black a representative and inclusive the claim said. commission’s ability to execute as persons with disabilities, from Public Service Employees, related public service,” the email said, Jennifer Philips has worked for its mandate, seeing as it could not outside the federal public service for to the hiring and promotion” of also highlighting the September the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) even promote equity within its own the Government of Canada to con- Black bureaucrats. Throne Speech where the govern- for more than 30 years, during teams.” sider for the deputy minister and “Canada owes Black employ- ment “announced an action plan which she has only been promoted assistant deputy minister cadre.” ees a duty of care,” the 45-page to increase representation and once, according to the claim. “She Repeated calls for change In its June 16 statement, the statement of claim said. “This duty leadership development within watched as fellow non-Black col- The hiring, promotion, and Parliamentary Black Caucus also entails an obligation to promote the public service.” leagues, some of whom she had overall treatment of people of highlighted “systemic discrimina- Black employees based on merit, “Early in its mandate, the trained, climbed the ranks and colour within the public service, tion and unconscious bias” in the talent, and ability, as is the case government also reflected its enjoyed the benefits of a system de- specifically Black people, has federal public service. Signatories for any other employee.” commitment in mandate letters, signed to lift them up while holding been a long-standing issue. called for measures that included The suit alleges that Canada’s in the establishment of an Anti- her down.” The claim said she and A 2000 report by the Treasury improving Black representation application of the Employment Racism Strategy and Secretariat, other Black colleagues were also Board-created Task Force on the in the senior ranks of the public Equity Act violates the Charter in the appointment of a minister subject to “explicit and demeaning Participation of Visible Minorities service, implementing anti-bias equality rights of Black employ- of diversity and inclusion and comments” made about their race, in the Public Service noted that training and evaluation programs, ees. The act designates women, youth, and in the creation of the national or ethnic origin, as well as the federal public service, “which and establishing an “independent Indigenous people, persons with Office for Public Service Acces- “attitudes and comments dismissing can be inhospitable to outsiders, champion for Black federal em- disabilities, and visible minori- sibility,” said the Treasury Board their ability to carry out their duties can be particularly so to visible ployees through the creation of a ties as requiring special measures Secretariat statement. because of their race and ethnicity.” minorities,” and recommended, national public service institute.” and accommodation in the public In February, Treasury Board Shalane Rooney was one of among other things, that the [email protected] service. President Jean-Yves Duclos two Black employees in a roughly government set a benchmark for The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 37 Feature Feds offer look inside Centre Block’s renovation of a century

The Hall of Honour, pictured, was where the fatal shootout involving RCMP officers, security, and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who claimed allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, took place. The bullet holes will be left intact as part of the building’s ‘heritage fabric,’ says a PSPC official.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Inside the belly of the Senate: the Red Chamber is going through major restoration work. Construction workers were surprised to find that the foundation was made of rubble. Work is underway to reinforce its foundation with cement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

tors who will occupy it once it is pit for the welcome centre. The PSPC has settled finally finished. department said $119.6-million Adjustments are being made has been spent to date. on leaving intact to the House of Commons Cham- It’s one piece of a larger proj- ber, in anticipation of its inevi- ect to give the precinct a facelift— the bullet holes left table expansion from 338 to 450 known as the Long Term Vision behind after a fatal MPs in the decades ahead. With and Plan—which started in 2007 much work still to be done—ma- and has a hefty price tag, with shootout involving sonry restoration could take six roughly $4.5-billion in approved years to finish, for example—and spending to date. Centre Block is now overrun with scaffolding, but the stained-glass windows RCMP officers, with turnover as it is every elec- Cost and timeline estimates that are a feature of the House of Commons Chamber haven’t completely been tion cycle, many current MPs for the Centre Block building are obscured. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade security, and Michael likely won’t get a chance to sit in set to be released when schematic Zehaf-Bibeau, who the refurbished building, once it design plans are finalized, which wraps up. PSPC expects will happen in the claimed allegiance to Rob Wright, assistant deputy “first quarter” of 2021, around the minister at Public Services and same time demolition and abate- the so-called Islamic Procurement Canada (PSPC), said ment work in Centre Block is now that some 2.5 metric tonnes of expected to finish. State, in the Hall of asbestos-ridden materials have been PSPC will leave intact the bul- removed, the next big project after let holes left behind after a fatal Honour on Oct. 22, the holidays is restoring the mason- shootout involving RCMP officers, 2014. ry. “We’re getting ready, so the crane security, and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, was just put up in place over the who claimed allegiance to the past week. We’re getting ready for so-called Islamic State, in the Hall BY THE HILL TIMES STAFF scaffolding to go on the north façade of Honour on Oct. 22, 2014. The after Christmas,” he told reporters, assailant died in the clash, when t’s been two years since the according to a pool report. he stormed Parliament Hill, after Ilights went out at Centre Block, So far, PSPC said, roughly fatally wounding Cpl. Nathan and construction crews have been $655-million has been allocated Cirillo who was standing guard at steadily and quietly chipping for work related to the renova- the National War Memorial. away at the renovations, despite tion of Centre Block and the There had been some dis- the pandemic that has scuttled construction of the underground agreement among Parliamentar- many carefully laid plans. visitor’s welcome centre, an ians about whether to leave those On Dec. 2, a small group of initial estimate that’s expected to scars behind or to patch them up. journalists were invited to tour grow as the project progresses. “We don’t plan on making any the ongoing renovations inside That covers the costs associated changes to that,” said Mr. Wright. Centre Block where 40 per cent with decommissioning the build- “It’s been decided that’s part of of the demolition and abatement ing, removing heritage artifacts, the heritage fabric of this building Marc-Olivier Ranger, a PSPC official pictured with the construction crew work so far has been towards “initial” restoration work, demoli- now.—With files from the Cana- on Dec. 2, 2020, explains plans to build an infill in this courtyard next to making it more habitable for the tion work, removal of hazardous dian Press and Laura Ryckewaert the opposition lobby and House of Commons during the tour. The Hill Times projected 450 MPs and 105 Sena- materials, and excavation of the The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade 38 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES

Ms. Johnson is now working alongside Ms. McKenna’s press secretary, Chantalle New adviser in Quebec Aubertin, and also oversees digital commu- lieutenant’s office nications adviser Murielle Pierre. Government House Leader and Quebec Adam Carroll is chief of staff to Ms. Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez has a new hill climbers McKenna. regional adviser in his office, Jamee St- Speaking of Mr. Lametti, the minister Hilaire. by Laura Ryckewaert has a new staffer of his own, with Bennett If Mr. St-Hilaire’s name rings a bell, it’s “BJ” Jensen having recently been hired as because he previously worked as a political an adviser. He’ll be weighing in both on staffer on the Hill, up until the end of 2018. policy and litigation files for the office and Since then, he’s been busy as director gen- marked his first day with the justice team eral of the Espace entreprenueriat région New comms director joins on Nov. 10. Thetford (E2RT) in Thetford Mines, Que. He’s also been a political commentator on Bennett Thetford Mines’ 105.5 FM. Minister McKenna’s team ‘BJ’ Jensen Mr. St-Hilaire started out on the Hill as has joined parliamentary assistant to then-Quebec the justice Liberal MP Linda Lapointe after the 2015 minister’s election. (Ms. Lapointe is now working in team. the PMO as one of two caucus liaisons.) Photograph At the end of 2017, he joined then-health courtesy of minister LinkedIn Ginette Petitpas Taylor’s office as a Quebec regional affairs ad- Mr. Jensen has spent the last seven viser, later years working for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, adding Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York City, parliamen- From left to right: Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Justice Minister David Lametti, starting as a litigation associate in 2013. tary affairs Government House Leader and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez, and Foreign Affairs Minister He’s been working as a pro bono attorney adviser to François-Philippe Champagne. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade with the firm since 2016. his title. According to a 2019 write-up on the Jamee St-Hilaire is now Mr. a regional adviser to the Michelle American Bar Association’s website, Mr. St-Hilaire government’s Quebec lieutenant. Plus, there are new hires Johnson is now Jensen was the firm’s first-ever pro bono is part of communications associate, and “has been a leader in the Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn the team to report in the offices director to the firm’s response to the family separation supporting infrastructure crisis,” including “overseeing teams of attor- Mr. Rodriguez as Quebec lieutenant, which of Justice Minister David minister. neys working in detention facilities around is led by chief of staff Geneviève Hinse, Lametti, Quebec Lieutenant Photograph the country” and “directing the firm’s and has staff working in both Ottawa and courtesy of involvement in the ACLU’s immigrant Montreal. Pablo Rodriguez, and LinkedIn family separation federal litigation.” Earlier Also part of this team are regional af- this year, he was named to the LGBT Bar fairs directors Marie-Laurence Lapointe, Foreign Affairs Minister Association’s Best 40 LGBTQ+ Lawyers Paul-Christian Nolin, and Norair Seren- Under 40 list. gulian; director of operations Agathe Alie; François-Philippe Mr. Jensen studied law at McGill senior regional advisers Ramez Ayoub University, and before heading off to New and Éric Beaulieu; and Caroline Morchat, Champagne. York, was a judicial law clerk with the executive assisatnt to Ms. Hinse. Her LinkedIn profile indicates that, federal court of Canada in Ottawa, includ- There’s also a recent staff addition to nfrastructure and Communities Minister along with a bachelor’s degree in history ing for former chief justice Allan Lutfy. He report in Foreign Affairs Minister François- ICatherine McKenna has a new head of and political science from the University also has a bachelor’s degree in internation- Philippe Champagne’s office. communications in her ministerial office, of Toronto, Ms. Johnson recently became al development and environmental studies Salman Arif has joined the minister’s with Michelle Johnson recently hired to a registered holistic nutritionist, via the from Queen’s University. team as a special assistant for operations. take over the role. Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. A write-up from McGill’s law faculty He spent the last two and a half years Until recently, Ms. Johnson spent the last In Ms. McKenna’s office, she replaces about his work around the U.S. family working in two years (and three months) working for the Elyse Surette-DiMuzio as communications separation policy in 2018 notes Mr. Jensen the finance credit bureau Equifax Canada as a consul- director. grew up in Ottawa. minister’s tant on government strategy and innovation. A former digital communications advis- “Jensen has helped spearhead Paul, office, Before then, up until the Ontario Liberals lost er in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office Weiss’s child reunification efforts, which starting government with the province’s 2018 election, (PMO), Ms. Surette-DiMuzio joined Ms. have included dispatching lawyers to do in May she’d been a staffer at Queen’s Park, last as McKenna’s team in September to replace on-the-ground work with detained parents 2018 as an senior policy adviser to then-Ontario status of David Taylor, who had then just returned in Texas and Albany, N.Y.,” reads the piece. Ontario women minister Indira Naidoo-Harris. to Justice Minister David Lametti’s office Nicholas Daube is director of policy regional An ex-president of the Ontario Young as director of communications. She worked and litigation to Mr. Lametti, and oversees affairs Liberals, Ms. Johnson is also a former in the PMO from May 2018 until last Janu- a team that also includes policy advisers adviser and aide to former Ontario MPP Brad Duguid, ary, when she exited to work for the Pete Olivier Jarda and Nadia Kadri. François executive including as a policy adviser in his office as Buttigieg’s campaign for the Democratic Giroux is judicial affairs adviser, while assistant to economic development minister and as an Party’s presidential nomination. Caroline Tanyan is a special assistant for then-min- issues manager and legislative assistant in Keep reading Hill Climbers for any judicial affairs. ister Bill his office as minister of training, colleges, update on where Ms. Surette-DiMuzio has Rachel Doran is chief of staff to Mr. Morneau. Former finance staffer Salman and universities. headed. Lametti. Mr. Arif Arif has landed in the foreign had previ- affairs minister’s office. ously been Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn a constitu- ency assistant to Mr. Morneau as the MP for Toronto Centre, Ont., hired on after interning in his office as finance minister over the summer of 2017. Mr. Arif is a former vice-president for organization for the Young Liberals of Canada. He has a bachelor’s degree in poli- tics and governance from Ryerson Univer- sity and while there served for a term as as president of the Ryerson Young Liberals. Allison Chick is director of operations We provide full service corporate, to Mr. Champagne, whose office is led by government and social catering in chief of staff Daniel Lauzon. Mr. Lauzon the greater Ottawa-Gatineau region. was previously director of communications to Mr. Morneau as finance minister, but left to become chief of staff to Economic Reserve your next event today! Development Minister Mélanie Joly in July 2018, meaning his time at finance only Providing great food, staff and party planning since 1984! overlapped with Mr. Arif’s for a couple of BASTIENPRIZANTOPTOMETRY.COM months. www.goodiescatering.com • 613-741-5643 • [email protected] [email protected] 613.236.6066 • [email protected] The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 39 Parliamentary Calendar

been asking for a first ministers meeting people to the extremes while the middle with the prime minister since September. is getting hollowed out, or at least is For more information, call the PMO Press getting squeezed out of the political Office at 613-957-5555. discourse. Megaphone politics, bumper Assembly of Nation Builder of the Year Award—The sticker slogans and tweets are the main Empire Club hosts the second annual Nation forms of political discourse. So, that’s Builder of the Year Award. Canada’s frontline in the United States, but it’s in Canada, workers will receive this year’s award. Among too. register.gotowebinar.com/regis- the list of speakers thanking and congratu- ter/119286427589080075 First Nations lating the men and women who have kept us safe and functioning during the COVID-19 FRIDAY, DEC. 11 pandemic are Speaker of the House of Com- Last Scheduled House Sitting Day—Today mons Anthony Rota, Chief Medical Health marks the last scheduled sitting day of to hold two- Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, Assembly of First 2020 for the House of Commons. Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, World Health Organization Director-General SATURDAY, DEC. 12 Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ontario Press Gallery Children’s Christmas Premier Doug Ford, and former governor Party 2020—The annual Press Gallery day general general Adrienne Clarkson. Thursday, Dec. Children’s Christmas Party will be mov- 10, at noon. Register at empireclubofcana- ing to your living room on Saturday, Dec. da.com/nb2020. 12 at 1 p.m. Members of the Hill who Meet & Greet With Erin O’Toole, Hosted by have small children taking part in this assembly Dec. Jordan Kupinsky—Jordan Kupinsky will host year’s virtual party should pick up their this virtual meet and greet with Conserva- loot bags and gifts for the children on tive Party Leader Erin O’Toole on Thursday, Dec. 7 at the National Press Theatre in Dec. 10, 5 p.m. EST. It’s a Zoom virtual Ottawa. This year’s party will include: event. www.conservative.ca/events loot bags, individual gifts, a magic show, 8-9, virtually Meet & Greet With Erin O’Toole, Hosted by a message from Santa, arcade games Stewart Lyons—Stewart Lyons will host this and colouring. Families are also asked to virtual meet and greet with Conservative send in video messages of good cheer, or Party Leader Erin O’Toole on Thursday, Dec. family photos. 10, 6 p.m. EST. It’s a Zoom virtual event. www.conservative.ca/events The Parliamentary Calendar is a free Populism in the American Election: events listing. Send in your political, cultural, Lessons for Canada—A Pearson Centre diplomatic, or governmental event in a para- webinar with Justin Gest, author and graph with all the relevant details under the associate professor of policy and govern- subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@ The Assembly of First Nations will hold a two-day virtual 41st Annual General Assembly from Dec. 8-9. This event was ment at George Mason University in postponed from the summer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day will run from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., and feature hilltimes.com by Wednesday at noon before Washington, D.C., in conversation with the Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the addresses from National Chief Perry Bellegarde, pictured, council updates, resolution plenary sessions, as well as messages and former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, Wednesday paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion question-and-answer sessions from the prime minister and members of his cabinet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade on Thursday, Dec. 10, 7-8 p.m. (ET) of every event, but we will definitely do our Prof. Gest has written extensively on the best. Events can be updated daily online, too. growing sense of marginalization driving The Hill Times MONDAY, DEC. 7 day will run from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., Too Small to Fail—The Canadian Club and feature addresses from National Chief of Ottawa hosts a panel discussion on “Too Moyra Davey: The Faithful—National Perry Bellegarde, council updates, resolu- Small to Fail: Canada’s Economic Recovery Gallery of Canada hosts this new exhibition, tion plenary sessions, as well as messages Needs a Small Business Rebound.” The To- Moyra Davey: The Faithful, featuring the and question-and-answer sessions from the ronto Star‘s Heather Scoffield will moderate CLASSIFIEDS work of one of Canada’s most innovative prime minister and members of his cabinet. the discussion featuring Paul Thompson, conceptual artists, on now until Jan. 3, Information available at https://www.afn. associate deputy minister of Innovation, Information and advertisement placement: 613-232-5952 2021. National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sus- ca/2020-annual-general-assembly/. Science, and Economic Development sex Dr., Ottawa. This new exhibition features WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9 Canada; Perrin Beatty, president and CEO, HOUSES FOR RENT CONDOS FOR RENT PROFESSIONAL 54 photographs and 6 films by Davey, along Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Dr. SERVICES with more than a dozen works from the In Conversation With Peter Mans- Wendy Cukier, professor of Entrepreneur- Gallery collection. Developed by the artist bridge—A Pearson Centre webinar with ship and Strategy, Ted Rogers School of and curator Andrea Kunard, the exhibition Peter Mansbridge about his new book, Management; and John Stackhouse, senior explores the artist’s trajectory from early im- Extraordinary Canadians. Thursday, Dec. vice-president, Office of the CEO, RBC. ages of family and friends, through portraits 9, 12-12:30 p.m. (ET) In his new book, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m. Register at of the detritus of everyday life, her mailed Mansbridge recounts the stories from some canadianclubottawa.ca. photographs, and films examining the work of his favourite Canadians —advocates, THURSDAY, DEC. 10 of authors, philosophers and artists. https:// politicians, doctors, veterans, immigrants, www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and- business leaders, and more. After 50 years Prime Minister to Host First Ministers LOVELY 2BED 2BATH GLEBE COACH HOUSE galleries/moyra-davey-the-faithful with the CBC, Mansbridge has anchored Meeting—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau @1000CAD Charming updated 2-storey, 1 PERSONAL DRIVE AWAY TUESDAY, DEC. 8 some of the most important events in will host a first ministers meeting on This Turnkey home is ready and bdrm house (w/alcove); hardwood SERVICE FOR SNOWBIRDS recent Canadian history, from federal funding for health care on Dec. 10. The waiting for you to move right in throughout; patio; private; parking. & TRANSPORT OF VEHICLES AFN General Assembly—The Assembly of elections, to visits from the Queen, and 12 premier want to focus on the annual Personal Vehicle Transport across First Nations will hold a two-day virtual 41st and start living. @1000CAD. Perfect Glebe location. $1900. + Remembrance Day ceremonies. Hosted by federal transfer payments to the prov- Contact: [email protected] utils. Dec. 1, 613-563-4101 the USA and Canada, Senior Annual General Assembly from Dec. 8-9. Andrew Cardozo, president of the Pearson inces and territories for health care, but Responsible Driver, I drive your This event was postponed from the sum- Centre. register.gotowebinar.com/regis- the government also wants to talk about vehicle, door to door. All Inclusive. mer, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each ter/5131918157198718736 strengthening health care. Premiers had [email protected] [email protected]

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