House logs COVID savings p. 5 Senate group looks to fill Indigenous art gaps p. 5 Economic Sen. recovery, Rosemary brought to Moodie: you by the letter K Les Whittington We are being cheap Lisa Van p.7 with our children p. 9 Dusen p. 6 Scott Taylor p.10 THIRTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 1771 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020 $5.00 News News News Senate audit Centre Block committee Senate leaders at impasse renovation is ‘a step on committees as PSG estimates forward,’ with likely to land non-voting balks at clause keeping in new year, external PSPC says members a seats with groups necessary work on With each side accusing the other of playing ‘hostage’ with negotiations, track despite compromise, ISG Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain says it would be ‘anarchy’ to let say Senators seats leave with Senators. COVID-19 Progressive BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN Senators Jane Cordy and ost estimates and timelines he Senate’s new Audit and Pierre Dalphond for the Centre Block build- Oversight Committee fea- C T say their group ing’s renovation, and for con- tures external members who are backing any struction of the final phase of selected, non-voting, and in a agreement on the underground parliamentary minority, making it ripe for con- committees welcome centre, could finally flict of interest concerns, says the is contingent come before MPs early in the new Senate’s first ethics officer, while on removing a year, based on recent comments even its critics in the Senate call it provision that from the department charged a “step forward.” says committee with overseeing the project. Members of the Senate’s two seats belong MPs across party lines have largest groups—the Indepen- to groups and repeatedly requested information dent Senators Group and the not individual on spending and timing estimates Conservatives—who helped end Senators. The related to the massive renovation a years-long stalemate over the Hill Times project, and Rob Wright, assistant establishment of such an over- photographs by deputy minister at Public Services sight committee say the decision Andrew Meade and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on membership was a necessary told members of the House of compromise to get the commit- Commons’ Board of Internal Econ- tee up and running eight years BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN Chamber’s committees, with the It’s a fight that has both sides omy (BOIE) on Oct. 8 that 10 to 15 after the Senate spending scandal Progressive Senate Group calling saying the other is holding the talks “critical,” “big boulder decisions” erupted and five years after a fter drafting an agreement, a clause that allows groups to hostage, and though leaders say they ASenate leaders have come keep control of seats instead of Continued on page 4 to a stalemate on setting up the individual Senators a nonstarter. Continued on page 12 Continued on page 11 Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 Comment Don’t expect the post-COVID economic recovery tide to raise all the boats BY ERICA IFILL ing? If you were lucky enough traditional food items, count your the haves and have-nots are K-shaped “recovery,” rather than to spend it with your family, blessings. There are many people growing during COVID. the V-shaped one promised by ALGARY—What were you complete with the illustrious who weren’t able to do so and the We are facing perilous eco- Cthankful for this Thanksgiv- feast featuring a cornucopia of structural discrepancies between nomic times, characterized by a Continued on page 6 2 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES Heard on the Hill by Neil Moss House committees return with some Conservative MPs David Sweet, right, Marilyn Gladu, middle, and Robert Kitchen, left, have been elected as chairs of the House Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics, the new faces as chairs House Committee on the Status of Women, and the House Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, respectively. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade ith the new parliamentary session un- Liberal MP Andy Fillmore showed off arbitrarily detained. Michael Kovrig and Wderway, House of Commons committees his turkey and his seven-seat Thanksgiving Michael Spavor must be brought home. Consul General Nadia Theodore are starting to take shape with some chairs table in a tweet. This is something for which all Canadians departs Canada’s foreign service already elected, including a few new faces. “The Thanksgiving table is set and it is stand united,” the speech noted. Conservative MP David Sweet was elected turkey time,” he tweeted. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also the new chair of the House Committee on Ac- Fellow Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine- raised the issue in an Oct. 10 call with U.S. cess to Information, Privacy, and Ethics. The Smith celebrated the holiday with a mix of President Donald Trump and thanked him committee was previously chaired by Tory MP indoor and outdoor dining. for the United States’ support in seeking Rachael Harder in the last session. “Strange and difficult times, but thank- their release. The committee has been in the spotlight ful for family (even when some of us need amid the WE Charity controversy. It had to eat outside),” he tweeted. unorthodox back-to-back Thursday and Some took the opportunity for a hike to Angus recognized for Friday meetings on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, as the take in the changing colour of leaves. mental health advocacy Conservatives are hoping to resurrect an at- “The fall colours are stunning,” noted NDP MP Charlie Angus has been hon- tempt to get documents related to the affair Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara. oured with an award for his mental health released. The Oct. 9 meeting lasted more For Conservative Deputy Leader Can- advocacy. than four hours as Liberal MPs filibustered dice Bergen, the holiday weekend had an Mr. Angus was one of seven to be named before the meeting was adjourned with the added significance, with the four-term MP a Champion of Mental Health award recipi- support of the Bloc Québécois. getting married. ent this year. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu was “Thanksgiving was extra special for us “Charlie Angus has been an advocate elected chair of the Committee on the Sta- this year,” she tweeted of her wedding. for mental health and minority communi- Nadia Theodore has been Canada’s consul general tus of Women. The committee was chaired ties for decades. At the age of 25, Mr. An- to the southeastern United States since 2017. by now-Conservative Deputy House Detained Canadians get virtual gus and his wife opened a Catholic Worker Photograph courtesy of Twitter/Nadia Theodore Leader Karen Vecchio in the last session. House for the homeless, refugees, and Tory MP Robert Kitchen is the new consular visit, first in months men coming out of prison in Toronto that After more than 15 years at Global Affairs chair of the House Commit- provided a no-questions-asked site for men Canada, Nadia Theodore is leaving Canada’s tee on Government Opera- looking for a safe place to sleep and have a foreign service to join the private sector. tions and Estimates. He re- meal,” a press release noted. Ms. Theodore has been Canada’s consul places his caucus colleague, Mr. Angus forwarded a private mem- general to the southeastern United States Saskatchewan MP Tom ber’s motion in 2019 to establish an action since 2017. She was based in Atlanta. Lukiwski. plan on suicide prevention that passed the Already, she has been named the senior All but one of the Liberal- House with unanimous consent. vice president of industry and global gov- chaired committees remain He was presented with the award in a ernment relations of Maple Leaf Foods. unchanged. Brampton Oct. 6 virtual ceremony by NDP Leader “I look forward to waving another Maple MP Ruby Sahota remains Jagmeet Singh. Leaf flag in my next chapter and continuing chair of the Procedure and “This is the job I do—I don’t see this as to showcase the best of what Canada has to House Affairs Committee, special,” Mr. Angus said. “When you see offer the world,” she tweeted. while New Brunswick MP Pat a problem in your community, you step While at Global Affairs, Ms. Theodore Finnigan continues as chair up because you have to step up. It’s your worked on trade policy and negotiations, in- of the Agriculture and Agri- obligation.” Michael Spavor, left, and Michael Kovrig, right, have been cluding on Canada’s free trade agreements Food Committee, North York Health Minister Patty Hajdu, Trans- detained by Chinese authorities since December 2018. with 10 fellow Pacific Rim nations (the MP Yasmin Ratansi chairs the port Minister Marc Garneau, and Digital Photographs courtesy of Twitter and the International Crisis Group Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement Committee on Environment Government Minister Joyce Murray also for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and with the and Sustainable Develop- spoke at the award ceremony, as did Bloc European Union (the Comprehensive Eco- ment, P.E.I. MP Wayne Easter Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet nomic and Trade Agreement). She also was chairs the Finance Committee, B.C. MP Ron have been detained by Chinese authorities and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. posted to Canada’s mission to the World McKinnon holds the gavel at the Health for more than 700 days, were recently grant- Mr. Angus has represented Timmins-James Trade Organization. Committee, Scarborough MP John McK- ed their first consular visit since January. Bay, Ont., in the House since 2004. Many politicos shared congratulatory ay heads the Committee on Public Safety The Chinese government has not been messages with Ms.