EXCLUSIVE POLITICAL COVERAGE:AGEE: NNENEWS,EWWS, FFEFEATURES,EATATURU E AND ANALYSIS INSIDENSIDDE SENATE’S DOUBLE POLITICAL LAWN SUMMER NIGHTS: PARTY NEW VISION: HILL LEADERS NORMAL P. 13 CLIMBERS P. 199 WANTED P. 11 CENTRAL P. 23 TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR, NO. 1354 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016 $5.00 NEWS LOBBYING HILL LIFE & PEOPLE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS NEWS ELECTORAL REFORM Lobbyists to focus on Majority wants marijuana, defence This is not your grandma’s referendum on procurement, Wellington Building, electoral reform, infrastructure, at question dominates caucus retreats, initial House departmental $425-million renovation consultations this committee work, but summer revealed, ready this fall feds deke and dodge BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT Lobbying activity tends to drop off in summer, but The topic of holding a national referen- dum on changing Canada’s voting system there’s still plenty to do, was a hot one at meetings of the Special House Electoral Reform Committee on the and MPs can expect some Hill last week, and a poll conducted by Forum visits in their ridings. Research and released Monday found 65 per cent of respondents think a national referen- BY DEREK ABMA dum on electoral reform should be held. “The public always likes the idea of Federal lobbyists, including some who holding a referendum as a referendum will attend the Liberal and Conservative gives the public the impression that they caucus retreats, are focusing this summer on the upcoming marijuana legalization Continued on page 7 law and the Health Accord, defence procurement, infrastructure investments, pre-budget consultations, and various NEWS PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL departmental consultations. Continued on page 4 Senators want to pass Bélanger’s NEWS LIBERAL PARTY gender neutral Meet Jack Siegel, the national anthem guy who led Grits’ bill this fall green-light committee, After fast-tracking it through and why he favours the House, Senators say they preferential ballot are confi dent the O Canada electoral system bill will pass by this winter break, if not sooner. BY DEREK ABMA BY RACHEL AIELLO Jack Siegel’s been a lawyer for more than 30 years and involved in politics for Senators say they are confi dent Cana- even longer. He was also the guy who dians will soon be singing the new gender- oversaw the Liberals’ powerful green-light neutral version of O Canada proposed committee in the last federal election and in Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger’s private the one who decided who got to run as member’s bill, C-210, which is currently Liberal candidates. before the Red Chamber and could become Mr. Siegel, 58, was born and raised in law this fall. Toronto, where he continues to live and Offi cially known as An Act to amend practise law for Blaney McMurtry LLP. His the National Anthem Act (gender), it will two law specialties are employment and change two words in the English version electoral matters. Asked about connections of O Canada from “in all thy sons com- between these two niche areas, he said in Wow factor: The newly renovated Wellington Building, which took six years to complete and cost mand” to “in all of us command.” $425.2-million, will be open in the fall for MPs. The old escalators are gone, there is a green wall, Continued on page 6 the mosaic is restored and the entire building is like brand new. The Hill Times photographs Jake Wright Continued on page 18 2 THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016 FEATURE BUZZ Her dad, Fawad Popalyar, who tweeted Canadians, and we stand by this promise,” the video, tells her in the video that Mr. Mr. Hehr said in a press release. “We are Sajjan is in his B.C. riding. reopening these nine offi ces and delivering ON Sophia continues to be upset, repeating on our commitments to treat veterans with EARD THE ILL “I want to go to Canada Day,” while her dad the care, compassion, and respect they H H explains that it is raining. Eventually, dad deserve.” BY DEREK ABMA relents and says, “Okay, we’re going,” just Other locations where reopenings are before the video ends. planned are Saskatoon, Charlottetown, In response to the video, Mr. Sajjan ar- Sydney, N.S., Windsor and Thunder Bay, ranged a meeting with Sophia on Thursday Ont., Brandon, Man., and Prince George and gave Sophia a tour of Centre Block. and Kelowna, B.C. This will happen by May The defence minister posted his own of next year, the government said. Hill community stunned video days before the meeting, in which Veterans Affairs is in the process hir- he said: “Hi Sophia. How are you doing? ing 400 new employees to ensure that any I saw your touching video. I’m so sorry I one case manager has no more than 25 by sudden death of Mike missed you in Ottawa. Unfortunately, I was veterans on their client list. As of May, 250 celebrating Canada with my family in Van- new frontline workers had been hired, the couver. But my staff is going to get in touch department said. Robinson, mentor to ‘almost with your parents and try to arrange a time that we can meet.” He tweeted a picture of himself with So- Sister Louise meets phia after his meeting with her Thursday, endless’ list of people saying, “I met my new friend Sophia today. Trudeau—and not for When she grows up, she wants to be Prime fi rst time Minister. I bet she will.” A previous video of Sophia went viral late last year, one that featured her naming several members of cabinet and identifying Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef as her favourite. Former Ontario premier to be appear at Liberal riding fundraiser Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty will be appearing at a fun- Prime Minster Justin Trudeau met with Sister Liberal backroom legend dies: Mike Robinson, third form the left, celebrated Earnscliffe Strategy draiser this week to Louise Dunn last week. Photograph courtesy of Group’s 25th anniversary with family members in 2014. Also in the picture are, from the left, son support the Liberal Craig Robinson, wife Mary-Louise (M.L.) Walsh, daughter Katie Robinson, son-in-law Sean Rock- riding association in Serenity Renewal for Families burn, and daughter-in-law Katherine Levitt. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright the suburban Ottawa constituency of Ne- Prime Minster Justin Trudeau got a visit hile celebrating Canada Day earlier against somebody in a political campaign pean, represented by from a highly loved Ottawa philanthropist Wthis month, many were shocked to and they would be calling him to see if they Liberal MP Chandra and religious leader last week, Sister Lou- hear of the sudden death of one of the most could have a beer with him at the end of Arya. ise Dunn, who reminded the prime minster Dalton McGuinty is prominent political players in Ottawa over the day. He was just that kind of a guy.” “The evening that it was not the fi rst time they had met. appearing at a feder- the last several decades. A memorial for Mr. Robinson is taking promises to be a spe- A newsletter from Serenity Renewal for al LIberal fundraiser Mike Robinson died suddenly on July place Tuesday, July 12, at 4 p.m. at Beach- cial one to celebrate Families, an organization that Sister Louise in Nepean, Ont., on 1 at the age of 65, not long after arriving wood Cemetery in Ottawa followed by a Liberal successes, helped found in 1983 that helps families Tuesday night. The in Normandy, France, where he planned reception at the Métropolitain Brasserie at meet Liberal friends deal with addition issues, said the two Hill Times photograph to spend the summer. He left behind his 6 p.m. and enjoy delicious met last Monday at Mr. Trudeau’s offi ce at wife of 40 years, Mary-Louise Walsh, four refreshments,” says a by Jake Wright Langevin Block. adult children, four grandchildren, and his notice for the event Much of the conversation between Mr. mother Jan Robinson. Sajjan visits with two- on the Liberal Party’s website. Trudeau and Sister Louise was kept pri- His career in politics started in the The event is being held Tuesday night at vate, though the organization said 83-year- 1970s as a Hill staffer, gaining experience year-old Sophia after an Indian food establishment in the riding old Sister Louise reminded the prime min- in departments such as Indian and North- called Rinag. Tickets are $200 a piece, or ister of the time when he was 11-years-old ern Affairs, Science and Technology, and disappointing Canada Day $1,525 for a table of eight. and he came to her door with his brothers the Treasury Board. He held several senior The same night, National Revenue on Halloween, bringing her a pumpkin pie positions in the federal Liberal Party, in- Minister Diane Lebouthillier is hosting a as a gift. cluding that of chief fi nancial offi cer from cocktail dinner in her riding of Gaspésie- The newsletter noted that Sister Lou- 1986 to 1990. Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que. The special ise’s mother was a big fan of Mr. Trudeau’s In 1990, he chaired Paul Martin’s cam- guest at this event in Fatima, Que., is Trans- father and former prime minister Pierre paign for the Liberal leadership, which was port Minister Marc Garneau, the Liberal Elliott Trudeau. “She had a poster size ultimately won by Jean Chrétien. He later MP for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, picture of [Pierre Elliott Trudeau] hanging headed the transition team when Mr.