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A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Zi-Ann l Follow Politico Canada WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. I’m your host Zi-Ann Lum with Andy Blatchford and Nick Taylor-Vaisey. Statscan releases the Consumer Price Index for March today and CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Washington for G-20 meetings where some leaders are planning their own protest of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook to you today? Save someone’s time by signing up directly. Click here to sign up to this free newsletter.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
A person shops in the cereal aisle of a Giant Food supermarket on April 12, 2022 in North Bethesda, Maryland. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images | INFLATION NATION — Canada could be in the 6ix by 8:30 a.m. Forecasters are predicting the pace of Canadian price growth will crack the 6-percent barrier this morning when the country gets its latest inflation figures. “With price pressures continuing to mount, the labor market at full employment, and the need to cool domestic demand as well as the housing market, the Bank [of Canada] will be staying firm on rate hikes,” TD economist KSENIA BUSHMENEVA wrote in a report. “We anticipate another 50 basis point increase on June 1st, with the policy rate hitting 2 percent by year end.” The issue is global. WAR'S DAMAGES — Looking at the world stage, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday that the global economic outlook has “worsened significantly” since January because of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the resulting sanctions by the West. Price bumps in food and energy are heating up inflationary trends worldwide. Food and energy insecurity is central to today’s meeting of global finance leaders in Washington. — Representing Ottawa: Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in D.C. after arriving Tuesday for a pre-G-20 bilat with Ukrainian Finance Minister SERHIY MARCHENKO. Freeland’s visit is timed with today’s meeting of G-20 finance ministers. Russian Finance Minister ANTON SILUANOV is expected to join virtually. TBA what the G-20 communique will look like at the end of it with some western nations expected to stage walk-outs to protest the war. — Bringing backup: International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN will arrive in D.C. today to join Freeland and take part in the IMF and World Bank’s spring meetings. Freeland’s office confirmed the DPM will meet with Ukraine PM DENYS SHMYHAL. The pair, as Freeland previously said, speak daily. MASK MANDATE FREE-FOR-ALL — Covid is airborne. The Covid pandemic isn’t over. But despite these two facts, calls to end mask mandates picked up steam this week after a Florida judge tossed the Biden administration’s masking rules for planes and trains. — This ain’t over: The Biden administration announced it will appeal the federal court decision. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU didn’t signal Canada is in any rush to lift federal masking guidelines for planes and trains. The government will continue to evaluate and reevaluate policies based on science and Covid numbers. It’s all about balance, he said. “People want to stay safe, but they also want to get back to the things they love,” the PM said in Dalhousie, N.B. on Tuesday, his latest budget roadshow stop. If we all rush to return to pre-pandemic activities with pre-pandemic behaviors, the risk is falling into another Covid wave, he said. “Nobody's going to be very happy with each other on that one.” The next challenge for the PM is explaining that to an anti-government motorcycle convoy heading to Ottawa at the end of the month.
| | CONSERVATIVE CORNER | | CROWD CONTROLS — Team PIERRE POILIEVRE has added a new event to their calendar this week: A lunchtime meet and greet in Fergus, Ont. Poilievre’s campaign booked the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex (with an ice pad floor capacity of 1,200 people) for a 12:30 p.m. event on Thursday. MEMO No. 14 — In the spirit of proactive disclosure, Conservative Party executive director WAYNE BENSON shared a copy of a confidential memo circulated to candidates earlier this month with official debate details. Titled “MEMORANDUM #14” the details come from the desk of RICK EKSTEIN, debate chair of the party’s leadership election committee. — What was known: Edmonton’s debate on May 11 is the first and will be in English. Candidates square off for the second official debate, in French, on May 25 in Montreal. “One week in advance of each debate candidates will receive the list of debate topics to be covered in the questions,” the memo reads. The party has yet to decide on a potential third debate in early August. — BYO-sizzle: Blocks of tickets will be split between teams equally. Each candidate will get 100 debate tickets, at C$50 per ticket. But it’ll be up to each camp to sort out the details whether to sell or distribute their allotment among their campaign supporters. Two-minute introductory videos, prepared and submitted individually by each candidate, will kick off both in-person and online debate formats. — T-minus 9 days: The Leadership Candidate Nominating Committee is now tasked with reviewing packages and interviewing would-be candidates before a list is finalized in a few weeks. Potential candidates won’t become Verified Leadership Candidates until they pay the full C$300,000 in fees by April 29. T-minus 143 days until party members elect their new leader on Sept. 10. — Also notable: The party has yet to fill the shoes left behind by CORY HANN. It’s been nearly a month since the CPC has been without a comms director. Hann left his post March 22 after nine years at party HQ.
| | On the Hill | | GROWING GLOBAL — Here comes something about cannabis because it’s 4-20. The budget teased the creation of a new cannabis strategy table led by the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development — but what problem is this new group intended to fix? Despite the word “cannabis” appearing in the budget 9 times, the details were sparse. ALEX WELLSTEAD, spokesperson for Innovation, Science and Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE tells Playbook the table has a bigger-picture purpose. “This table will allow greater collaboration with industry to ensure we can turn our economic strengths into a global advantage,” Wellstead said. “We’ll be working closely to ensure they can continue to grow and succeed.” That’s one small step towards clarity. BRIDGE AS METAPHOR — Public comments are trickling in for the proposed deconstruction and reconstruction of the Alexandra Bridge — the one with the stunner of an east-facing view of Parliament Hill. If you know, you know. Plans are moving ahead to replace it because it’s in an “advanced state of deterioration.” A state confirmed by your humble Playbook host during a balmy weekend walk when she spotted layers of red Tuck Tape wrapped around one of the bridge’s posts.. But before construction is anticipated to start in 2028, the project has to undergo a federal impact assessment, a process in which the public can submit comments. Early comments suggest booting cars off the interprovincial bridge entirely. Others want to see separated lanes for bikes, cars and pedestrians. “I suggest that you or the committee Google innovative bridge designs and go from there,” wrote DAN FONDA. “Look at the Helix Bridge [in] Singapore as an example of innovation. Ottawa cannot afford another ho-hum infrastructure design.” The bridge is one of five interprovincial crossings in the National Capital Region, carrying nine percent of average daily vehicle traffic between Ottawa and Gatineau. Commenter CHRIS HIRCOCK proposes the region can do with one less bridge for cars and trucks. “Any decision on this project must be taken with the due care as to how it will affect each of the next seven generations of all peoples of the region,” Hircock wrote. Citing climate crisis and pressure to lower greenhouse gas emissions, the comment posited the new bridge shouldn’t incentivize car use. “The existing four of five crossings provide a surplus of road space for cars and transport trucks,” Hircock wrote. “The one take away for this bridge: Do not build for the traffic we have, build for the [mobility] we want.”
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| | PAPER TRAIL | | FROM THE TENDERS — Parks Canada wants to give a two-storey home north of Toronto the HGTV treatment.The nineteenth-century brick farmhouse in rural Markham falls within the borders of Rouge National Urban Park. See it for yourself here. The federal government intends to lease the property to "park farmers" who will tend to the land. The national park's 2019 management plan promises to work with leaseholders to develop "farm plans" that "support … sustainable agriculture, the maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, the conservation of cultural resources, and visitor experience." — Finishing touches: Check out the drawings for the new-look bathrooms. Don't miss the double vanity in each space. The renovated kitchen will feature abundant cabinetry (estimated cost: C$10,000) and a decent-sized island. Double sinks are framed by a high window with plenty of natural light.
| | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Ontario’s Waterloo region for a 10:30 a.m. photo-op with “local families” to talk about the budget, followed by a 10:50 a.m. media availability. 2:30 p.m. Trudeau will meet with Muslim communitiy leaders. Treasury Board President MONA FORTIER and area MPs join the PM for a 3 p.m. meeting with Muslim community members in observance of Ramadan. — Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND and International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN are in Washington. 9:15 a.m. World Bank President DAVID MALPASS holds a press conference kicking off the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. 9:30 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Montreal and will hold a media availability with NDP MP ALEXANDRE BOULERICE to talk housing. 10:15 a.m. Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET will hold a media availability after hosting a national caucus meeting at the Québec City Convention Centre. 4 p.m. (ET) George Gordon First Nation leaders will reveal the results of a geographical survey that flagged “possible burials” on the site of the former Gordon’s Indian Residential School. 8 p.m. (ET) NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH and NDP MP PETER JULIAN are hosting an anti-hate virtual town hall with the Canada Anti-Hate Network’s BERNIE FARBER, Ontario Tech University’s BARBARA PERRY and Canadian Multifaith Federation’s PANDIT ROOPNAUTH SHARMA.
| | MEDIA ROOM | | — Here's the CBC's AARON WHERRY this morning: Some Conservatives are condemning a 'truck tax' that doesn't exist. — Senators DONNA DASKO and STAN KUTCHER co-authored an op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen on Ukraine, urging Canada and its allies to do more, “and quickly.” — uOttawa law prof MICHAEL GEIST digs through the federal lobbyist registry for hints at how the voice of Canadian newspapers pushed for a bill that would force Facebook and Google to compensate the news industry for links to their reporting. — From The Logic and MURAD HEMMADI: Lunch with political economist DAN BREZNITZ: ‘Our kids will have a worse life than us, unless we change Canadian business’ — Through Freedom of Information requests, RACHEL BROWNE and VICE World News has compiled national non-cannabis drug possession arrest data broken down by race, something that does not yet exist publicly in Canada. The data reveals a vastly disproportionate number of drug possession arrests for Black and Indigenous people. — Over at The Line, KRISTIN RAWORTH warns against underestimating French presidential contender MARINE LE PEN. Just look at America's adventure with Trump, she says. Canadians should be on notice: "What happens in the United States and Europe rarely misses us." — On The Decibel, ROBYN URBACK talks about PIERRE POILIEVRE’s populist appeal. — From ÉRIC GRENIER: A history of elections in Ontario — 151 years in 12 minutes.
| | PROZONE | | If you’re a POLITICO Pro , don’t miss our latest policy newsletter: Inflation nation: Ready for 6 percent? In other headlines for Pros:
— How a wonky metric became the proxy war on climate change.
— The plan to rebuild a green Ukraine.
— Can I really ditch my mask while traveling?
— France’s Le Maire urges EU to prioritize banning Russian oil over gas.
— Conservatives embrace Elon Musk as their Twitter savior.
| | Playbookers | | Birthdays: HBD to journos EVAN SOLOMON and DANIELLE CRITTENDEN. Former MNA RITA DIONNE-MARSOLAIS also celebrates today. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: TIM POWERS of Summa Strategies, celebrating the finish line in Boston. U.S. President JOE BIDEN on a video call Tuesday morning with TRUDEAU, European Commission President URSULA VON DER LEYEN, European Council President CHARLES MICHEL, French President EMMANUEL MACRON, German Chancellor OLAF SCHOLZ, Italian PM MARIO DRAGHI, Japanese PM FUMIO KISHIDA, NATO Secretary-General JENS STOLTENBERG, Polish President ANDRZEJ DUDA, Romanian President KLAUS IOHANNIS and British PM BORIS JOHNSON. POLITICO’s David Herszenhorn has a wrap-up of the videoconference call,writing that while they promised Ukraine more of virtually every type of assistance, they could offer no assurances any of it would stop Russia’s brutal new military assault in eastern Ukraine, or prevent the Kremlin’s armies from conquering all of Donbas or committing further wartime atrocities. Oops: The White House sent out a readout of the meeting to inboxes, accidentally scrubbed out TRUDEAU ’s name. The readout was later corrected. MARY NG, testing positive for Covid-19. MANINDER SIDHU, parlsec to MÉLANIE JOLY, heading to Central America for the Ministerial Conference on Migration and Protection in Panama. THE STRATEGISTS, heading to the Maharaja Banquet Hall for a live edition of their pod May 19. “The day after UCP review results!” notes host ZAIN VELJI. Their latest episode is here. Media mentions: EUN KYUNG KIM is now deputy White House editor at POLITICO. She most recently was a policy editor at CQ Roll Call, and is a veteran reporter and editor. … CHRISTOPHER MILLER is joining POLITICO to cover the war in Ukraine. He previously was a reporter for BuzzFeed, where he has been covering the war. He will continue to report on the ground in Ukraine. The newsroom memo. MARSHA MCLEOD is heading to the Globe’s Ottawa bureau in June to fill in for a parental leave. The Montreal Gazette names its new editor in chief: BERT ARCHER. Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.
| | TRIVIA | | Tuesday’s answer: The (future) premier who fought three elections in 14 months was BOB RAE. He won a seat in the Commons in 1978, 1979 and 1980. In his memoir, "From Protest to Power," Rae told the tale of the brinkmanship that brought down JOE CLARK's ill-fated government only days after then-finance minister JOHN CROSBIE tabled his first budget. Rae's political autopsy in brief: "The Clark government died an accidental death from a self-inflicted wound." Props to RYAN HAMILTON, BEN ROTH, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and ALAN KAN. Wednesday’s question: In 1991, who said: “Confidence among Canadians that the money that they earn and the money that they save will keep its value is the essential contribution that monetary policy can make to sustained low interest rates.” For bonus marks: Tell us the context of those comments. Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Alejandra Waase to find out how: awaase@politico.com. Playbook wouldn’t happen without Luiza Ch. Savage and editor Sue Allan.
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