MAID is It’d be Mike a human nice if Duffy right for Canada those who took a appeal a meet the stand chance against to reform eligibility racism Michael Susan Harris criteria p. 15 p. 11 Senate p. 4 p.13 Riley p.12 Hill Climbers p.19 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1788 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 $5.00 News News News ‘All policy roads Liberal ‘Just will travel through Next federal election Transition’ bill the budget’: new Finance DM will be a referendum on should Sabia tasked with come before Canada’s long-term Trudeau’s handling of next budget, growth agenda say union reps BY MIKE LAPOINTE COVID-19, and which BY PETER MAZEREEUW fter more than half a decade he Liberal government has at the helm of the Finance A begun to roll out parts of its Department, MPs and experts T legislative agenda quickly, with are lauding outgoing deputy party has the ‘most just a handful of sitting weeks re- minister Paul Rochon’s service as maining until federal budget sea- a man who has “lived two years son is upon us, and speculation of in one” throughout the course a spring election circulating. of the COVID-19 pandemic, but The House of Commons was with the appointment of Michael compelling blueprint for scheduled to adjourn for the winter Continued on page 17 the future,’ say politicos Continued on page 18 News Prime Minister News Justin Black public Trudeau, pictured on Graduates of servants’ lawsuit Dec. 7, 2020, on the Hill, trauma support will force public should try to complete centre for service ‘to look four years in government military, vets, deeply inside before asking for an election, first responders, its structure,’ as going to the polls early warn of more carries serious says former political risks, suicides if PTSD says Stephen senator who’s Carter, an program can’t Alberta based been fighting for high-profile find funding Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 political diversity in the strategist. The Hill Times BY PETER MAZEREEUW PS for decades photograph by Andrew Meade treatment program for mili- A tary personnel, veterans, and BY MIKE LAPOINTE first responders suffering from post traumatic stress disorder is BY ABBAS RANA COVID-19 crisis, and a chance for “It’s gonna come down to what ormer Senator Don Oliver, who struggling to find funding, and Canadians to evaluate which party the facts are on the ground,” said has argued for decades that graduates of the program warn F he next federal election will has “the most compelling blueprint Darrell Bricker, CEO of public the government needs to appoint that lives could be on the line if Tbe a referendum on Justin for the future” after the once-in-a- Continued on page 4 Trudeau’s management of the century crisis is over, say pollsters. Continued on page 16 Continued on page 6 2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES West Block Christmas decorations: Heard on the Hill nice try, but kind of hum-drum by Palak Mangat Women community leaders urge Trudeau cabinet ministers to stop funding new nuclear reactors Really? That’s all you've got? Two wreaths and a Christmas tree, outside Room 125-B in the West Block, pictured Dec. 8, 2020. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade n normal times, there’s usually a gigantic ways, in the Reading Room, the Railway Itree inside Centre Block’s main rotunda Committee Room, and thousands of little all dressed up with hundreds of little red white lights and wreaths and garlands, and bows, from top to bottom, and little white more poinsettias everywhere inside Centre lights, and surrounded at its base by a cir- Block. But these aren’t normal times. cle of poinsettias. And it doesn’t stop there. Centre Block is closed for massive renova- Centre Block’s beautiful archways are tions until 2030 and beyond. And we’re in strung with garlands and little white lights the middle of a pandemic. So there aren’t and they’re everywhere. There are usu- many around on the Hill, Centre Block’s ally Christmas trees outside the Library of stand-in is the West Block and its Christ- Parliament’s main door, trees in the Centre mas decorations just don’t cut it. They’re Block foyer, the Senate foyer, down hall- even beige. One hundred women community leaders sent a letter to Treasury Board President Jean-Yves This just in: CBC’s parliamentary Duclos, Digital Government Minister Joyce Murray, Diversity and Inclusion Minister Bardish Chagger, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and bureau looking for three new hires Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson urging the federal government to stop funding new nuclear reactors. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade omen community leaders across the Wcountry sent an open letter to several federal cabinet ministers last week urging them to stop funding new nuclear reac- tors and saying it’s a serious mistake “that blocks swift action on climate change.” “Canada is a member of an interna- tional nuclear waste treaty and has a legal obligation to minimize generation of CBC’a Salimah Shivji and Chris Rands, pictured A gutted section of offices along a north-south radioactive waste. Federal funding for new on Oct. 21, 2019, at an election night work at hallway on the sixth floor is pictured during a tour of nuclear reactors would be an abnegation an election night rally at the Palais des Congrès the ongoing Centre Block revitalization on Dec. 2, of this treaty obligation,” reads the letter in Montreal. CBC’s parliamentary bureau has 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade sent Dec. 6 to Treasury Board President about 55 members in the press gallery. The Hill Jean-Yves Duclos, Digital Government New Liberal MP Marci Ian is on the Christmas Times photograph by Andrew Meade The massive project, dubbed the “renova- Minister Joyce Murray, Diversity and Liberal fundraising circuit. Image courtesy of tion of a century,” is led by PSPC and is expect- Inclusion Minister Bardish Chagger, In- Liberal Party of Canada BC’s Parliamentary Bureau, which has ed to take at least decade to complete, if that. frastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, Cabout 55 accredited members in the Par- The historic building will be basically taken Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and “Right now, our teams are working liamentary Press Gallery, is looking for a na- apart, strengthened and reinforced, updated, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. toward our important mid-month online tional senior reporter to cover politics, major and put back together again, piece by piece, for Activist Johanna Echlin sent the letter, fundraising deadline, as the Liberal Party national stories, and Parliament Hill, Chris use during the next 100 years and beyond. which was signed by 99 other women, of Canada moves toward our big grassroots Carter, CBC’s new parliamentary bureau including Indigenous and non-Indigenous fundraising goals for the end of this year,” chief, tweeted on Dec. 7. “We are looking for Writers’ Trust gives a record community leaders in science medicine, the fundraising letter states, adding that if someone with ideas and who can produce law, and environmental protection. All the donors give $99, they’ll get a glass coffee impact journalism.” Mr. Carter and CBC also $375,000 to Canadian writers cabinet ministers are members the Trea- mug with the Liberal logo on it, and for tweeted that the bureau is also looking for a ust an FYI: the Writers’ Trust announced sury Board’s cabinet committee. $199, they’ll get a pair of black and red plaid senior assignment producer to work with the Jlast week, that despite the pandemic, The women leaders say solar and wind oven mitts, or for $299 or more, donors will producers and reporters, and it’s looking for lack of in-person events, and fundrais- power are the cheapest and fast-growing get both. All last week, the Libs were push- a senior digital producer to lead the bureau’s ing galas, it raised a record $970,000 in electricity sources in the world and are urg- ing fundraising efforts, including Liberal digital coverage of politics. 2020 for Canadian writers and delivered ing the government to put more funding into MP Adam van Koeverden, the party’s $375,000 this past spring to more than energy efficiency and energy conservation. senior communications director Braeden 250 writers through the Canadian Writers’ Caley, party president Suzanne Cowan, As- PSPC officials offer two more Emergency Relief Fund. “In spite of the sociate Finance Minister Mona Fortier, and obstacles, we were delighted to step up and Rookie Liberal MP Ian helps Azam Ishmael, the party’s national director. media tours inside Centre support Canadian authors at a historically fundraise for Grits The Liberal Party has been doing “virtual Block’s ‘renovation of a century’ record level,” it declared in a press release ew Liberal MP Marci Ian, who weekends of action” fundraising phone ublic Services and Procurement Cana- last week. “We have even bolder plans for Nwas sworn in two weeks ago as the MP banks, recently held a virtual town hall with Pda officials will be offering more media the next year with exciting announcements for Toronto Centre, didn’t waste any time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance guided tours inside the massive renovation and new initiatives we can’t wait to share last week fundraising for her party’s mid- Minister Chrystia Freeland, and says it has project on Centre Block on Tuesday Dec. with you in 2021.” month financial quarter deadline at the end 10,000 volunteers making nearly a million 15.