Bob Rae to Ross O’Connor: the UN: better When it comes to Alberta vs. Quebec, don’t bet on Alberta p. 3 late than never Douglas Roche p. 7 Bad+ Is Canada Russian to Bitchy normalize relations? p. 3 p.6 Hill Climbers p.11 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1743 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 $5.00 News Cultural assessments needed for sentencing reform, say advocates, amid calls to address high Black incarceration rates BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN ing, the judge should consider their contact with the criminal It’s among the Parliamentary of justice, where the Parliamen- the unique cultural and histori- justice system, say advocates who Black Caucus’ dozens of recom- tarians said the “hard edge of sys- hen Black and racialized of- cal factors of the defendant and laud a recent parliamentary call mendations to address systemic Wfenders appear for sentenc- whether racism played a role in for the reform. racism, including nine in the area Continued on page 14 News News Argentina, Chile, DRC, Disaggregated data key to Hungary, and Madagascar say ensuring representative they backed Canada’s workplaces, say experts, as UN Security Council bid, PMO skirts Black staff statistic but closest Parliament BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT allies are silent The PMO declined Hill's Centre to provide a specific Block building, recent Hill Times survey seek- as pictured Aing to understand the demo- BY NEIL MOSS breakdown of from Gatineau, graphics of staff on Parliament self-identified Que., on April Hill found that, among the small wo La Francophonie nations, 1. The road pool of respondent MP offices, Ttwo South American coun- Black staffers to ensuring a 42 per cent of staff identified as a tries, and an EU member state say among cabinet representative visible minority, while 5.3 per cent they supported Canada’s failed workforce on identified as Black, but a compari- bid to win a temporary seat on offices when Parliament son to cabinet offices, including the UN Security Council, while Hill requires the Prime Minister’s Office, isn’t some of the country’s closest al- asked, but says it going beyond possible after a separate survey lies won’t say whether they voted plans to circulate 'diversity by was circulated by the PMO that for Canada in the secret ballot. the numbers,' excluded a specific category on The Hill Times contacted the further voluntary says York staffers who identified as Black. UN missions, foreign ministries, surveys to better University's Instead, results from the or embassies in Ottawa of all 192 Lorne Foster. PMO, which are said to include understand its staff The Hill Times Continued on page 12 photograph by Continued on page 4 ‘later this summer.’ Andrew Meade News Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Experts describe the move, New order granting diplomatic privileges to African made official in mid-June, as a minor development, but one that will ease communication and Union officials a ‘positive step,’ say former diplomats access, and something that was likely raised at the recent African BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN privileges to senior officials at the that one expert described as the the African Union, for the first Union (AU) Summit attended by African Union, say former diplomats “voice for the continent.” time they will have the same priv- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau t’s a “positive step” and “high time” who agreed the order is a small but Now, when leaders and ex- ileges and protections afforded to Ithat Canada granted diplomatic necessary move to support a body perts visit Canada on behalf of diplomats posted here. Continued on page 16 2 WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Trudeau rebuffs D.C. trip to mark new NAFTA Justin Trudeau won’t Heard on the Hill be joining U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican by Neil Moss President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to celebrate the new NAFTA this week. White House photograph Freeland continues by Tia Dufour, Flickr photograph courtesy of the Mexican President’s Office, The role overseeing Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t Mr. Trudeau held a phone call with Canada-U.S. file be travelling to Washington, D.C., to cele- Mr. López Obrador on July 6 in which he brate the new NAFTA with U.S. President expressed “regret” about missing the meet- Donald Trump and Mexican President ing, according to a PMO readout. Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Mr. Trump and Mr. López Obrador are Tam said last week that if Mr. Trudeau had as Ng takes reigns set to meet on July 8 and 9 to celebrate gone to America’s national capital, he would the new North American trade pact that have to quarantine for 14 days on his return. came into force on July 1. The trip has raised health concerns, as Mr. Trudeau previously put cold neither Mr. Trump or Mr. López Obrador water on a potential visit due to the are known to wear face masks in public and of new NAFTA COVID-19 pandemic and the threat some worry that the Mexican president may that the U.S. may reimpose national have been in contact with Mexican Finance security tariffs on Canadian aluminum Minister Arturo Herrera, who has tested posi- implementation act exports. tive for the virus, according to media reports. countries around the world about the im- ethics critics—Michael Barrett and Charlie Deputy Prime portance of strengthening and rebuilding a Angus. Minister Chrystia “successful world order.” Mr. Trudeau has been found to have Freeland had “Nothing short of that will do,” he said. acted improperly after two previous eth- been tasked with Mr. Rae was the interim federal Liberal ics investigations into his trip to the Aga the responsibility leader from 2011 to 2013 and was Ontario Khan’s island and his involvement in the of guiding the premier under the NDP banner from 1990 SNC-Lavalin affair. new NAFTA to 1995. along, but its He was part of a delegation that trav- Brent Jolly named new CAJ implementation elled to New York City to campaign for the bill is now in the Security Council alongside Mr. Blanchard president The Canadian Association of Journal- ministerial hands last September. Mr. Blanchard has been ists has a new leader as Brent Jolly has of International Canada’s top diplomat in New York City been named its next president. Trade Minister since 2016. Mary Ng. The Hill Times photographs by Mario Dion looking into WE Andrew Meade charity contract, Trudeau’s third probe Canada’s ethics commissioner is look- hile International Trade Minister Mr. Rae was named the successor to ing into a contract awarded to the WE WMary Ng has gained responsibil- Marc-André Blanchard on July 6, taking charity, which was subsequently cancelled. ity for the implementation law of the new the role his father, Saul Rae, held from NAFTA, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia 1972 to 1976 during the Pierre Trudeau Freeland remains the cabinet minister re- government. sponsible for overseeing the ever-important Bob Rae has Canada-U.S. relationship. most recently Ms. Freeland has carefully stick-handled served as the new NAFTA through all phases of nego- Canada’s tiations and implementation, but now that the special trade pact came into force on July 1, the legis- envoy for lation for its implementation is in the hands of humanitarian Ms. Ng, an order-in-council has set out. Brent Jolly has been the vice-president of the CAJ and refugee Bill C-4, the Canada–United States– since 2018. Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Brent Jolly issues. The Mexico Agreement Implementation Act, Hill Times was passed by the House and Senate Mr. Jolly will take the reigns of the jour- photograph in mid-March before Parliamentarians Mario Dion will be undertaking his second ethics nalism advocacy organization for the 2020 by Andrew adjourned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to 2022 term. He currently is a National Meade with Ms. Freeland guiding the bill through when he examines the WE charity contract. The NewMedia Council director and has been a the legislative process. Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade vice-president of the CAJ since 2018. The order doesn’t have any impact “It’s an incredible honour to be selected on Ms. Freeland’s role spearheading the Mario Dion’s investigation into the by my esteemed group of peers to serve as Canada-U.S. file, according to a govern- awarding of the contract is the third ethics the next [CAJ] president,” he tweeted on ment official, as it is normal practice for Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on July probe into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. July 6. “Whether you’re a grizzled vet, mid- the international trade minister to be in 6 alongside Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Rae called Mr. Dion’s office confirmed the latest career freelancer, or an up-and-coming stu- charge of all trade agreements. the appointment “an enormous honour.” investigation in a tweet last week. dent j, it’s time to rally around each other.” Despite being shuffled out as foreign af- “For me to be able to work in the same The WE charity was awarded a contract Under Mr. Jolly’s leadership the association fairs minister last November to become the place as my father and to be able to have to pilot a $900-million program for summer will look to “advance discussions about indus- deputy prime minister, Ms. Freeland kept his picture in my office, and to be engaging student grants.