Experts Would two terms of Trump Canada’s Sheila mean the end of American military Copps weigh p.10 democracy? Not necessarily justice in on Gwynne Dyer p. 11 system’s COVID-19 in chaos HOH Biotechnology policy briefing pp. 15-22 p.2 Michel Drapeau & Joshua Juneau p. 14 Michael Harris p.9 THIRTY-FIRST YEAR, NO. 1762 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 $5.00 News News News O’Toole’s pitch Trudeau’s Liberals risk leaving Experts sound to working class alarm over a winner, say ideological centre open by ‘politicized’ U.S. strategists, but intelligence, he’ll have to go tilting further to the left in say COVID-19 through union Throne Speech, say some Grits pandemic a boss Jerry Dias The federal Liberals don’t want an election this fall, but also ‘wake-up call’ BY PETER MAZEREEUW don’t want to be seen being ‘pushed around’ by the opposition about Canada’s onservative Party Leader Erin parties either. See story by Abbas Rana on p. 6 new national CO’Toole’s olive branch to the working class is a well-timed message that could pay dividends Prime Minister security threats for the party, say political strate- Justin Trudeau, gists and a veteran pollster—but pictured in Ottawa BY MIKE LAPOINTE one of Canada’s most influential on Aug. 18, 2020, will unveil his labour leaders says he isn’t buy- ecurity and intelligence ex- Throne Speech on ing it. perts are sounding the alarm Sept. 23. Some S Mr. O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) about increasingly “politicized” of his MPs are has reached out to the union- intelligence information from the worried the party ized working class in recent United States during the COV- is tilting further interviews, and, in particular, ID-19 pandemic, with one saying to the ideological in a 90-second video run online it could “undermine” intelligence left, leaving the sharing within the Five Eyes al- moderate middle Continued on page 25 liance, and another suggesting open to the the events of the past few months Conservatives. represent a “wake-up call” about The Hill Times the changing nature of threats to photograph by national security. News Andrew Meade In a recent publication from the Centre for International Gov- ernance Innovation publication Newly elected entitled Security, Intelligence, Conservative Party DeLorey, and the Global Health Crisis, Leader Erin O’Toole, a number of experts dove into pictured on Sept. “important questions about best Deltell brief 9, 2020, with Fred practices with regard to global DeLorey, national and domestic health surveillance, campaign manager, Conservatives early warning and preparedness,” and his chief of staff including Greg Fyffe, president Tausha Michaud of the Canadian Association of on election arriving at the Sir Security and Intelligence Studies. John A. Macdonald “When you are trying to get Building in Ottawa readiness and early warning of a pandemic, you for a Conservative should have every possible set of Party caucus Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 ears, lines of inquiry, and sources fall strategy meeting. The Hill [open] to receive information,” said Times photograph by Mr. Fyffe in an interview with The Andrew Meade BY ABBAS RANA Hill Times. “I think there are kinds of information that may come into he Conservative House leader Public opinion polls: where the federal political parties currently stand in surveys the intelligence net that don’t nec- Tand a top opposition staffer essarily come into other nets.” briefed the party’s 142 MPs and Leger Nanos Research Abacus Data Angus Reid Ipsos “For example, you may pick up, Senators on election readiness Liberal 34% Liberal 33.2% Liberal 33% Liberals 35% Liberal 35% through communications intercep- and their fall parliamentary strat- Conservative 32% Conservative 31.05% Conservative 31% Conservative 35% Conservative 32% tions, communications between egy during a one-day in-person NDP 19% NDP 19.2% NDP 18% NDP 17% NDP 18% officials who are acknowledging Green 6% Green 7.5% Green 7% Green Party 4% Green 7% Continued on page 24 Poll was released Sept. 8 Poll released Sept. 4 Poll released Sept. 4 Poll released Sept. 2 Poll released Aug. 21 Continued on page 4 2 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | THE HILL TIMES inviting Ottawa friends over to Brixton’s to days. “I miss having places to wear fancy catch up. “If you can’t make it and wish you dresses. #pandemiclife,” tweeted Emily could buy me a beer, [please] send your $5 Haws, an associate producer with CBC’s here,” he tweeted, along with a link direct- Power and Politics program and a former ing followers to donate to the party. Mr. reporter at The Hill Times. “I now have a col- Heard on the Hill Soule, previously a senior media strategist lection of gowns from Parliamentary Press with the party during last fall’s election Gallery Dinners gone by in my basement,” campaign and aide to figures like Thomas added The Globe and Mail‘s Kristy Kirkup. by Palak Mangat Mulcair, Trent Wotherspoon, Nicole Until 2021, or 2022! Sarauer, and Rachel Notley, is now listed as a director of communications to NDP Journo quits Montreal paper, Leader Jagmeet Singh. Frequent national affairs columnist and commentator Tom joins Ricochet ‘Those are his Parkin, who sought the party’s nomination Award-winning journalist Christopher last year in the riding of Parkdale-High Curtis announced last week that he’s leav- Park, Ont., sent his wishes and joked: ing the Montreal Gazette to work with “Judging from your beer choice I thought Ricochet Media as a crowdfunded investi- pyjamas’: O’Toole your 40th birthday was before this Wednes- gative reporter. “I’m betting my future on day.” this experimental new model of journalism, Mr. Soule’s ale of preference appears to and hoping you’ll fund me to do the kind of be a Labatt 50, regarded by National Post deep, context-rich stories I can’t really do at opts for suit and tie reporter Christopher Nardi as “Quebec’s the Gazette,” Mr. Curtis wrote in a column most underrated beer.” posted to a Ricochet webpage. Mr. Curtis re- Ms. Ashton, meanwhile, tweeted out flected that more than a decade ago, he was a link encouraging supporters to sign up a construction worker and college dropout, to catch thrilling with the party. “Normally, when political failing to get into journalism school at Con- staff make birthday cards for their bosses, cordia University. Since then, he’s battled it it’s devoid of any politics but, let’s be hon- out with Liberal MP Marc Miller in the ring est, that wouldn’t be Niki,” read the web- after bragging about his Muay Thai skills page, which featured a photo of Ms. Ashton on Twitter; seen multiple colleagues take Raptors playoff game with her twin sons. “So instead of centering buyouts or leave the industry to take a stab this around her, pretend it’s your birthday at public relations; and worked on stories and you’re blowing out the candles on a that have helped in coroner inquests. Many Twitter cake. What is the one thing you would wish users poked fun for to make Canada a more fair and just at Conservative society?” Leader Erin The appeals come as election specula- O'Toole's choice tion begins to heat up, as Parliament is set of attire when to resume in less than two weeks on Sept. he tweeted a 23. That will usher in a new Throne Speech photo of himself and subsequent confidence vote which, if watching a all opposition parties withhold their sup- Raptors game last port of, could topple the government and week wearing a trigger an election. suit and tie. Some Meanwhile, Ms. Ashton also posted a thought he was photo on Facebook with her twin boys, two channelling his birthday cakes, and two candles, an 8 and a inner professional zero. “Lucky to share this special day with basketball team family—including my kids who insisted it owner vibe. was their celebration and their cake too. Just watch me: Reporter Christopher Curtis is Photograph Also I’m definitely 38 and not 80—the store opting to work with Ricochet Media as a new courtesy of Erin ran out of 3s!” crowdfunded investigative reporter. Photograph O'Toole’s Twitter courtesy of Ricochet Twitter’s screengrab This just in: Parliamentary Press “I believe I’ll be the first journalist to quit a full-time job to launch a crowd- ew Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole white striped polos, but that might be a far Gallery Dinner punted to 2021 funded newsletter in Canada,” he wrote. “If Nwas among the millions of Canadians cry from his “true blue” suit and run a bit Hill media, MPs, Senators, diplomats, po- the experiment works, I hope it provides a who caught the Raptors bug on Sept. 9, too close to the Liberal red. But still, other liticos, Hill staffers, and lobbyists will have blueprint for how to do meaningful jour- and watched a thrilling, double overtime options are out there, just sayin’. to wait until next year to rub elbows (prob- nalism amid the wreckage of a collapsing Game 6 victory against the Boston Celt- Meanwhile, comedian and actor Mark ably literally) at the annual Parliamentary industry.” Mr. Curtis will split his time be- ics from the comfort of a swanky looking Critch made fun of Mr. O’Toole’s TV. “I re- Press Gallery Dinner. Initially pushed from tween Montreal and Val-d-‘Or, and his new setup. Did I say it was thrilling? In normal ally hope that the money to renovate Stor- May to Oct.