Canada, Roy Norton Defence Mexico talk p.6 foreign policy worker briefing protections Andrew Caddell p. 11 p. 4 Quebec has eyes wide shut to anti-Indigenous racism Bad+ pp. 13-24 Bitchy p.10 Hill Climbers p.30 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1781 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 $5.00 News News MPs, Senators ‘Inevitable’ return to testy federal- look to fill Centre Block’s courtyards provincial relations will showcase in recent reno recommendations discord with differing priorities, BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT entre Block’s previously un- Cused courtyards are likely to see new construction to provide say politicos and experts more office space for Senators and larger House of Commons Prime Minister lobbies, following recent recom- ‘We are seeing Justin Trudeau mendations from the MP working has urged group and Senate subcommit- the inevitable provincial tee charged with weighing in on premiers, like, renovation plans. conversation clockwise from The most recent recommen- about crucial top left, Doug dation from MPs still has to be Ford, François approved and endorsed by the policy decisions Legault, Scott Moe, Brian Continued on page 29 on resources Pallister, and Jason Kenney, come to the fore and to 'do the right thing' to News with [where] combat the inevitably you’ll surging second wave of the see differences,’ COVID-19 What can pandemic. says former The Hill Times Canadian Liberal strategist photographs by Andrew Meade pollsters learn John Delacourt. from mistakes BY NEIL MOSS politicos and experts say it is an Minister Justin Trudeau and the dollars to save failing businesses. “inevitable” return to normal as premiers, as the prime minister Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) s the collaborative approach policy priorities diverge. urges the provinces to contain the urged the provinces to contain in American Abetween federal and provin- Gone are the days of cordial spiralling second wave and the cial political leaders is collapsing, co-operation between Prime premiers hope for more federal Continued on page 12 presidential polling? Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 News BY NEIL MOSS s questions mount about the Aperformance of U.S. polling ‘Historic’ effort to run two hybrid Chambers a balancing act in successive presidential elec- tions, some Canadian pollsters BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN hybrid model, allowing Parlia- the office of the Senator over- in hybrid sittings was a balance say there is an opportunity to mentarians to participate both seeing that work for the Upper of health and safety precautions learn from the mistakes of Ameri- fter a months-long effort, in Ottawa and at home, sharing Chamber. while focusing on the continuity can firms, while others defend ACanada’s two parliamentary resources along the way to reach The Senate’s first full week Chambers have now moved to a that “historic” first, according to joining the House of Commons Continued on page 28 Continued on page 27 2 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES rights abuses and on this pandemic— to have a phone call with the president- people like Kyaw Soe Oo, Wa Lone, and elect, according to the PMO. Maria Ressa—only to face repression and violence.” Bill Morneau gets Ivy League gig Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are Reuters If past finance minister Bill Morneau‘s reporters who were jailed for their cover- Heard on the Hill bid to lead the Organisation for Economic age of the Myanmar military’s repression Co-operation and Development (OECD) of the Rohingya people. Maria Ressa is falls short, he’ll have a backup plan. by Neil Moss a Philippine journalist who co-founded Rappler and was sentenced to six years in prison for cyberlibel, which was seen as retribution for her reporting on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Chinese ambassador “It is never acceptable for a journal- ist to be attacked for doing their job,” Mr. Trudeau said. “It is never acceptable for a turns down invite to reporter to be thrown in jail for interview- ing a peaceful protestor. And it is never acceptable for anyone anywhere to have their freedom of expression denied.” appear at Canada-China Canada and the United Kingdom un- veiled the inaugural winner of the Canada- United Kingdom Media Freedom Award, which was awarded to the Belarusian As- Former finance minister Bill Morneau will join Relations Committee past U.S. secretary of state John Kerry at Yale sociation of Journalists for their reporting in the face of increased crackdowns after University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. MPs on the the fraudulent election win of Belarusian The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Canada-China President Alexander Lukashenko. Mr. Morneau was named a senior fel- Relations Mr. Trudeau’s comments come after low at Yale University’s Jackson Institute Special Canada’s commitment to press freedom for Global Affairs. He will teach a course Committee has been questioned after reporter Karl on global economic policymaking in the said they Dockstader was charged with mischief and spring. Past U.S. secretary of state John were disobeying a court order while covering Kerry is also a fellow at the institute, as 'disappointed' an Indigenous protest in Caledonia, Ont. is Clinton White House chief of staff John that Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Podesta. Ambassador Champagne told reporters that he wasn’t Canada’s finance minister from 2015 to Cong Peiwu, aware of the case. pictured on 2020, Mr. Morneau resigned from cabinet March 12, and Parliament in August in the midst of chose not to MPs congratulate Biden and the WE Charity controversy. appear. The When he announced his resignation, Hill Times Harris on election win, extend Mr. Morneau said he was putting his name photograph by invitation for parliamentary forward to be the next secretary general Sam Garcia at the OECD. The leader of the 37-member address multilateral forum is picked by consensus As U.S. President Donald Trump refuses for a five-year term and will be selected by s the Special House Committee on Canada’s Ambassador to China Domi- to concede the Nov. 3 presidential elec- June 1, 2021. ACanada-China Relations continues nic Barton appeared before the committee tion, MPs unanimously supported an NDP studying the maimed relationship between in the last parliamentary session. motion to congratulate president-elect Joe O’Toole’s pooch Wexford joins Ottawa and Beijing, Chinese Ambassador Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Cong Peiwu declined an offer to showcase Harris on their victory. social media the Chinese government’s perspective, the ‘We can’t turn away’: Trudeau Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s dog committee announced. has taken to social media. The committee noted in a Nov. 13 press champions press freedom at Wexford O’Toole debuted his new release that it was “disappointed” that Mr. international conference Twitter and Instagram accounts last week, Cong declined the invitation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned with a picture from the Official Opposition “The Special Committee believes that about the dangers of the ongoing decline in Leader’s residence. a meeting, preferably an official meeting press freedoms at an international confer- on the public record, is the most appropri- ence devoted to world press freedom. ate means by which the Ambassador can “A crackdown on the media puts democ- clarify past remarks and share his govern- racy in danger,” Mr. Trudeau said on Nov. ment’s perspective regarding Canada-Chi- 16. “It puts lives in danger.” na relations generally, and the situation in Hong Kong particularly,” the press release noted. MPs have invited U.S. president-elect Joe The committee is currently conducting Biden to address Parliament. It would be the a study on the situation in Hong Kong. first parliamentary address since U.S. president The committee is still open to meeting Barack Obama’s speech in 2016. Photograph with Mr. Cong “at a mutually agreed time,” courtesy of Twitter/Joe Biden according to the release. He was invited to appear before the committee in its Oct. 26 They also called on the Canadian meeting. government to invite the pair to visit Par- Mr. Cong told The Hill Times in March liament and have Mr. Biden address the that committee members have “no right” to Lower Chamber. ask him to appear. Mr. Biden last was in Ottawa in an of- “I think if they invite me to take part in ficial capacity when Prime Minister Justin a roundtable discussion, that’s good. But Trudeau hosted him for a state dinner in if it’s just like a hearing, simply they have Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the world December 2016. no right to just ask me to be there like a can’t ‘turn away’ when it sees a crackdown Mr. Trump never visited Ottawa as business,” he said at the time, noting that on the freedom of the press. The Hill Times president, but he did visit Canada when it wasn’t the norm for foreign diplomats to photograph by Andrew Meade he travelled to Quebec for the 2018 G7 appear before parliamentary committees. Summit in Charlevoix. Vice-President Mike While not having the tradition of an Mr. Cong’s fiery comments about Canada co-hosted the Global Press Pence visited Ottawa in 2019. American presidential pet, there have been Canada-China relations have generated Freedom conference with Botswana. Past U.S. president Barack Obama‘s many notable Canadian political canines. Canadian attention. After a remark alleg- Canada ranks 16th on the Reporters first international trip was to Ottawa in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adopted edly threatening the safety of Canadians Without Borders press freedom index and 2009. He also gave an address to a joint sit- a Portuguese water dog in 2016.