Alistair HOH Chagger MacGregor’s p.2 on hunt for bill pushes for responsible new chief pension of staff:Hill investments Climbers LGBTQ fund p. 16 p. 22 addressing gaps p. 4 Scott Taylor p.9 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1810 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 $5.00 News News Praise for new Senate anti-harassment policy, but Ontario MPP Coteau ‘very concern remains it goes too far—and not far enough open’ to seeking federal Liberal BY ALICE CHEN “grave concerns” about its imple- Committee, which gave its ap- nomination in Don Valley East mentation and development. proval on Feb. 11. It was tabled in hile Senators have gener- The new policy was developed the Red Chamber on Feb. 16. The BY ABBAS RANA riding of Don Valley East, Michael Wally welcomed the Upper by the Subcommittee on Human document, which replaces one Coteau, who was the runner-up Chamber’s new harassment and Resources, a subgroup of the written in 1993 and last updated reviously unsure about in the 2020 provincial Liberal violence prevention policy ap- Chamber’s Internal Economy, in 2009, will come into effect after Pseeking the federal Liberal leadership contest and represents proved last month, some still have Budgets, and Administration nomination in the coveted Toronto Continued on page 18 Continued on page 19 News Freelance interpreters await new contract terms, after PSPC’s proposed changes sparked concern BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT he final terms of the new Tcontract for federal freelance interpreters, including those covering Parliament Hill, are still eagerly awaited, months after an advocacy association raised the Foreign power alarm over proposed changes a rep says would put the future health and safety of interpreters, and the quality of their work, at greater risk. “If this RFP [request for propos- al, with contract terms] goes for- ward without taking into account Who are the top 50 people our concerns then it will be left to each and every one of our mem- bers to decide if they want to work or not want to work under those influencing the government’s conditions for the Government of Canada,” said Nicole Gagnon, a freelancer interpreter on the Hill and Canadian advocacy lead for the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 foreign policy? The Translation Bureau, which exists as a special operating agency under the Department of pp. 12-15 Public Services and Procurement, offers interpretation and transla- tion services to all government departments and agencies, as well as Parliament Hill. As of January, the subgroup supporting Parlia- ment had 53 staff interpreters and Continued on page 17 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 | THE HILL TIMES Hannah Daley “I am pleased to welcome Cyrus to came on as the CN team. He will lead our strong The Wire bench of experienced government and Report’s new regulatory affairs professionals to de- deputy editor liver best in class government relations,” Heard on the Hill March 8. She Sean Finn, executive vice-president, comes from corporate services, at CN said in the a background press release. by Alice Chen as a business reporter. Photograph Federal Conservative candidate courtesy of announces run from Florida Hannah Daley CBC and CTV news veteran and well- known broadcaster Frank Cavallaro will Green Party run as the federal Conservative candidate in the riding of Mount Royal, Que., when- ever the next election is called. “It felt like the career I wanted to do. He will be challenging incumbent Lib- And the creation of these news deserts eral MP Anthony Housefather. leader Paul hosts where there’s all these communities that In an interview with The Suburban, Mr. don’t actually have any coverage … it’s Cavallaro described himself as a “lifelong beginning to feel like a very important pro- Liberal supporter” who switched sides fession, more so than even before.” after escalating pandemic restrictions riding-connecting compelled him to reflect on the “endless scandals” of the Trudeau government. He Government announces new made specific reference to the WE Char- advisory group for choosing the ity scandal, and Mr. Trudeau’s infamous next governor general blackface photo. conversations “Recognizing the unique nature of the situation,” Dominic LeBlanc, president of the Queen’s Privy Council, announced In an event held by the same group the March 12 the formation of a group to help next day, Tunde Obasan, who ran under the select the next top vice regal. United Conservative Party banner in the The Advisory Group on the Selection of 2019 provincial Alberta election and who the Next Governor General is mandated to is challenging for a federal position in the submit a shortlist of “outstanding Canadi- next election, shared how he got involved ans” for the prime minister’s consideration, in the political process as newcomer to reads a press release. Canada. “I think the No. 1 thing will be interest,” President of the Former broadcaster Frank Cavallaro will be he said. “It’s not something that was dif- Queen’s Privy running as the federal Conservative candidate ficult to jump on, because something was Council for in the riding of Mount Royal. Screenshot built already, you have to have passion for Canada Dominic courtesy of YouTube that.” LeBlanc announced “I believe that Erin O’Toole and the last Friday that Conservatives can deliver a better future a new group for Mount Royal and for Canada,” he told Green Leader Annamie Paul, pictured at a will be formed The Suburban. March 11 press conference, has launched to select the Mr. Cavallaro made his announcement a series highlighting the stories of those in next governor- from Florida, where he had been since No- Toronto Centre, the riding where she intends general. The vember, working for a golf company. to run in the next election. The Hill Times Hill Times “I’m not in the country. I’m in Florida. photograph by Andrew Meade photograph by I came down here to work last year,” he Andrew Meade told Global News, noting he was heading reen Party Leader Annamie Paul is north in a few days’ time. “I’ll get tested for using the platform she has to share her COVID, I’ll have my negative test and do G my 14-day quarantine, and then go out and voice with those who live within her slated Mr. LeBlanc will co-chair the group, meet the people in my riding.” Toronto riding, as part of a new series along with Janice Charette, interim clerk dubbed TC Connect. of the privy council, Daniel Jutras, rec- “We’re looking for a way to proactively NDP MP Matthew Green says he was excited to tor of the Université de Montréal, Judith Newest Inside Ottawa Directory highlight the stories and experiences of be a part of Black Voters Matter Canada’s How LaRocque, chair of the board of trustees people within Toronto Centre,” she told The to Run federal election series. The Hill Times hits the newsstand of the Canadian Museum of Nature, Natan The 2021 Inside Ottawa directory is now Hill Times. That means talking to com- photograph by Andrew Meade Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, available on The Hill Times’ online store. munity leaders and residents and sharing and Suromitra Sanatani, interim chair of Released by Hill Times Publishing, the videos of those conversations on Facebook. The two virtual events were part of a the board of directors of Canada Post. directory includes contact details for all Ms. Paul is planning on running in Toronto larger federal series on how to run in elec- The announcement comes in the wake 338 MPs and sitting Senators, federal rid- Centre in the next federal election. tions, held to help Black people and allies of former governor general Julia Payette‘s ing profiles, and key contacts within the Some of the people she’s spoken with understand the process better. In total, four resignation earlier this year amid allega- legislature. include Pamela Hart, executive director were run over the past two weeks, featur- tions of bullying and harassment at Rideau “It’s also a great reference book if you of the Native Women’s Resource Centre of ing a politician from each major political Hall. The new selection process is much need to testify in committee and can’t re- Toronto, who she talked to about Indig- party. like the one used by the previous Conser- member who you spoke to in the minister’s enous issues, and Walied Khogali Ali, an Mr. Green (Hamilton Centre, Ont.) was vative government, which Prime Minister office,” Anne Marie Creskey, publisher at organizer in Toronto Centre who discussed elected as a federal NDP MP in 2019. He Justin Trudeau dropped in favour of going The Hill Times, said in an email. basic universal income with her. previously made history for being the first his own way to pick Ms. Payette in 2017. The Inside Canada directory, scheduled The format is intended to give those she person of colour elected to Hamilton City for release next month, is also available for speaks to agency, Ms. Paul said. council in 2014. His initiatives have focused pre-order. It covers provincial and territo- “The idea is to make it as unfiltered as Former PMO adviser gets new on ecological, equity, and economic justice. rial contacts, such as cabinet ministers and possible,” she said. Mr. Obasan came to Canada from Nige- rail gig their staff, sitting calendars, and media One of the stories they’re looking for- ria in 2012. He has more than 20 years of Cyrus Reporter, the former senior contacts.