Special report: The Great Rebuilding, Part 2 p. 17 The price of everything, 49 days value of nothing Harris p. 10 of racism Opposition pans feds' advertising p. 4 LeMay p. 11 HOH p.2 Hill Climbers p.5 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1744 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 $5.00 News News Ex-Liberal MPs running PSAC reaches tentative deal with feds in next election on Phoenix damages, wage increases BY MIKE LAPOINTE largest federal public service increases and compensation for The deal was struck nearly eagerly union reached a tentative agree- damages in connection to the four months after strike votes fter nearly three weeks at the ment with the government late problem-plagued Phoenix pay await start of Abargaining table, Canada’s on July 9, securing both wage system. Continued on page 14 nomination process BY ABBAS RANA Trudeau ith the Liberals in majority Wterritory in public opinion polls, some Liberal MPs who lost the last election are eagerly awaiting the start of nomination contests that will give them a embroiled chance to reclaim their seats. Continued on page 16 in third News Conservatives ethics to put 24/7 live camera on ballot scandal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has broken the holding area public trust: editorial, p. 8. for leadership election News Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Too soon to say if StatsCan will bring in more racialized BY ABBAS RANA he Conservative Party will researchers, says official; ‘we’re just building those relationships’ Tonce again put a 24/7 live camera feed on the ballot holding BY PALAK MANGAT whether it will hire more racialized Canada, acknowledged in an “We have put in place a area for its upcoming leadership on-the-ground statisticians and re- interview last week that while the committee of experts that could contest, accessible to the pub- anada’s statistics agency is searchers to help, says one official. country has made some strides specifically provide us guidance lic, as one of several measures Cworking with an expert advisory Marc Lachance, acting direc- in collecting Indigenous data, on—you know, we never really committee to better collect race- tor of health, justice, diversity, figures for some ethno-cultural Continued on page 15 based data, but it is too early to say and populations with Statistics groups are lagging. Continued on page 29 2 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Calls for free menstrual products pick up Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos showed his support for a petition calling on Ottawa to Heard on the Hill provide free menstrual products in the wash- rooms of all federally regulated workplaces by Palak Mangat last week. Linking to an online petition that garnered more than 1,200 signatures since opening up on July 7, the Ontario politician wrote it’s one “worth learning about and supporting. Kudos to @RachEttinger and Media shakeups in Longtime Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, pictured many others for continuing to raise this very in June 2019 at West Block, was awarded a important issue so passionately and persua- recognition from the Churchill Society for the sively.” Among the demands are that Ottawa Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy last provide free tampons and pads and “address Ottawa and beyond: week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade menstrual equity at the national level by recommencing its work on this proposal.” agriculture and agri-food, natural resources, Globe bids adieu to government House leader, public works, finance, and finally public safety. After his defeat in the 2019 election, his cabinet post was handed to Bill Blair, but he continues to Leblanc, HuffPo readies hold the unique distinction of serving under both Trudeau prime ministers. After first being elected in 1974 at the age of 24 for Assiniboia, he went on to lead for new editor-in-chief the Saskatchewan Liberal party in 1981 and reached the provincial legislature in 1986 for two years, crossing paths with a Veteran Globe young Jason Kenney, who was a staffer in and Mail Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos is among the MPs his office. Ian MacDonald, editor and pub- reporter Daniel supporting a call for Ottawa to bring in free lisher of Policy Magazine, congratulated Leblanc, shown menstrual products in workplace washrooms. the nine-term MP for the “well deserved” at right in Photograph courtesy of Peter Fragiskatos’ Twitter honour, jokingly adding “one of the great this 2005 file parliamentarians and House leaders of photograph The feds had committed to the move in the modern era. And [long] suffering SK with colleague May 2019 when Patty Hajdu was labour Riders fan!” Mr. MacDonald was a speech- Campbell Clark, minister. Ms. Hajdu said it was about equity, writer for prime minister Brian Mulroney is leaving the dignity, and removing the stigma women in 1985 to 1988. paper at which face “for something that happens to their Mr. Goodale, who also marked 46 he has spent body every month.” As noted by Postmedia at years to the day last week since first be- more than two the time, it can take between 18 to 24 months ing elected in the July 1974 election, is decades. Mr. to follow through on regulatory changes to the 37th recipient of the society’s award, Leblanc is the Canada Labour Code, but the pandemic which is usually presented at the group’s now headed to has since taken hold of much of the govern- annual dinner in November. Because of Radio-Canada. ment’s attention. In 2015 Ottawa ditched the pandemic, it is looking at other ways to The Hill Times what has been coined the “tampon tax” when celebrate this year, noted a July 7 release. file photograph it announced it would no longer be collecting GST on sanitary products. More Progressive Senators The Progressive Senate Group gained Politicos share summer reads lobe and Mail veteran reporter Daniel Ms. Lau has helped lead live broadcasts, another member last week in Senator Wan- Last week’s sweltering conditions might GLeblanc split his time last week longer-term projects, daily news, and guide da Thomas Bernard, who previously sat as have had you wondering if we’re really between digging into the government’s overall newsroom strategy. She is a 13-year an Independent. PSG leader Jane Cordy only just three weeks into the summer, but $343-billion deficit and announcing his veteran of CBC News as a TV reporter, welcomed the new addition on July 8, say- at least that means a lot more (physically resignation from the paper at which he producer, editor, videojournalist, and web ing on Twitter Sen. Bernard “has devoted distant) downtime to relax at the beach, spent more than two decades. “The news reporter, and hails from Vancouver. Ms. her career to social justice, and brings with patio, or living room with a good book. is trickling out… After nearly 22 years, I Lau also worked with CTV in the past and her an abundance of expertise in social Conservative MP Eric Duncan shared his have resigned from the Globe and Mail. has been with HuffPost since 2012. work, racial justice and systemic change.” summer reads for the season, which include It was a pleasure, an honour and a great Sen. Bernard added she is “honoured” to veteran Liberal operative Pat Sorbara‘s Let source of pride. My best work was always join the group “and continue representing ’Em Howl: Lessons from a Life in Backroom teamwork and I leave behind fantastic all Nova Scotians and Canadians of Afri- Politics. The book, which made it onto The journalists, but the friendships are intact,” can Descent in the Senate.” Hill Times’ Top 100 Best Books List last year, tweeted Mr. Leblanc on July 8, just hours was launched last October and in Ottawa before the government unveiled its deficit in March, and logs Ms. Sorbara’s love of figures. byelections, among other things. The seasoned political journalist got his start at the paper in August of 1998, shortly after a one-year internship at the Ottawa Citizen. His areas of focus have included cannabis, the RCMP, procure- ment, and Canada-Quebec relations—the latter of which could come in handy in his new role with Radio-Canada. “I will have more to say later, both on my career at the Globe and my new duties. For now, I let the dust settle. Thank you all for the kind HuffPost Canada’s editor-in-chief, Andree Lau, words. Back to work!” added Mr. Leblanc, will be heading over to CBC News to manage who had been working with Bill Curry at its digital news. Photograph courtesy of Andree the time to help in the paper’s coverage of Lau’s Twitter Nova Scotia Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard Ottawa’s fiscal “snapshot.” (Mr. Curry is, announced last week she has joined the coincidentally, a former Hill Times reporter, Goodale gets nod Progressive Senate Group. Photograph courtesy Conservative MP Eric Duncan shared three who focuses on finance and federal policy Longtime Liberal Hillite and expe- of Wanda Thomas Bernard books on his summer reading list. Photograph at The Globe). rienced federal cabinet minister Ralph courtesy of Eric Duncan’s Twitter Goodale added another accolade to his Appointed in 2016 by Prime Minister Moves at HuffPost Canada resume last week, earning a nod from the Justin Trudeau, the Senator has worked as Others on Mr. Duncan’s docket include The Globe isn’t the only news outlet Churchill Society for the Advancement a professor at Dalhousie University and The Conservative Soul by British-born Ameri- that will see some changes within its ranks.