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A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum | Send tips l Email Zi-Ann l Subscribe here WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. I’m your host, Zi-Ann Lum. Interest rates are expected to go up today, signaling difficult times ahead for consumers. The auditor general has some thoughts about her office’s reports being left on read. Plus, it’s judgment day for Tim Hortons’ mobile app.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | SLOW BURN — The Bank of Canada is expected to deliver a super-sized interest rate hike today, an announcement that would surprise exactly no one on the Hill. The news will arrive via press release, no TIFF MACKLEM press conference included. Questions probing the central bank governor for his two cents on Conservative leadership contender PIERRE POILIEVRE’s provocative pitch to fire him will have to wait until the bank releases its next monetary policy report in July. — Trends and tea leaves: Rising rates will have people flipping back to Statistics Canada data, says former federal budget watchdog KEVIN PAGE, specifically the consumer price index, which has been tracking recent “really significant” month-to-month inflation in the economy. Inflation is picking up steam and isn’t slowing down, Page told Playbook on the sidelines of the Canadian Association of Journalists’ conference in Montreal this past weekend, “even though the year-over-year rate didn’t move that much over the last two months.” — Feels like double digits: From a consumer perspective, it means being stuck with higher food and gas prices, some people more than others. The long-term impacts of inflation is a slow-burning issue that risks fermenting the urban-rural political divide in Canada. It is an especially rough time for people who have a truck and live outside the city and have to drive into that city for work, Page said. “They have no choice… It feels like double- digit inflation right now, even though it's just under 7 percent, 6.8 or 6.7 percent.” From a monetary policy perspective, the rate hikes are part of a normalization process. Difficult times are ahead for a lot of consumers, Page said, citing current rates concurrent with wage increases running at a much slower rate and interest going up in addition to inflation. “There’s pressure on politicians to help the most vulnerable in this environment.”
| | | | DON'T MISS THE 2022 GREAT LAKES ECONOMIC FORUM: POLITICO is excited to be the exclusive media partner again at the Council of the Great Lakes Region's bi-national Great Lakes Economic Forum with co-hosts Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This premier, intimate networking event, taking place June 26-28 in Chicago, brings together international, national and regional leaders from business, government, academia and the nonprofit sector each year. "Powering Forward" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect key decision-makers with thought leaders and agents of change to identify and advance solutions that will strengthen the region's competitiveness and sustainability in today's competitive climate of trade, innovation, investment, labor mobility and environmental performance. Register today. | | | | | ABOUT THAT PRESSURE — Auditor General KAREN HOGAN is “frustrated and discouraged” over Ottawa’s inability to deliver benefits to vulnerable populations such as low-income individuals, Black and Indigenous offenders and veterans “I just expect better from the government,” Hogan told reporters after tabling four new audit reports Tuesday. “I think Canadians expect better from it.” A recurring theme in Hogan’s reports is the government’s failure to tailor outreach initiatives to ensure benefits and programs reach the people who need them — despite evidence of systemic barriers provided by the AG’s office in previous audits. “Trying to apply the same recipe to every single individual isn't working,” she said. Hogan pointed to disparities in the delivery of the Liberals’ Canada Child Benefit to illustrate her point, listing take up to be 79 percent on reserves versus 97 percent in the general population. “It's about finding out what those barriers are, and then tailoring your outreach to actually reach that vulnerable population instead of always repeating the same recipe and hoping that it will just have an increase in uptake.” Do you enjoy Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who may like it, too. Hit forward. Click here to sign up to this free newsletter.
| | AROUND THE HILL | | TIMMIES TIME — Today marks federal privacy watchdog DANIEL THERRIEN’s last news conference before his mandate wraps Friday. He was first appointed to the post in 2014. The federal privacy commissioner will mark the occasion by releasing the results of a two-year investigation into a Tim Hortons mobile app, one that was flagged by the Financial Post for potential overreach over its use of geolocation data. BENNETT’S ‘DISCOMFORT’ — NDP MP GORD JOHNS’ Bill C-216 is up for a vote today at second reading which, if passed, would send the private member’s bill to committee. Bill C-216 proposes to treat the opioid crisis as a public health issue and its measures include decriminalizing personal possession of illicit drugs to reduce stigma related to substance use. Liberal MP NATE ERSKINE-SMITH counts himself among the bill’s backers. The vote comes a day after Mental Health and Addictions Minister CAROLYN BENNETT granted B.C. a three-year provincewide section 56 exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The exemption decriminalizes possession up to 2.5 grams of illegal drugs for personal use — the first jurisdiction to do so in Canada. “I want to be very clear, this is not legalization. We have not taken this decision lightly,” Bennett said, before calling the move a “template for other jurisdictions across Canada.” The veteran Liberal said Tuesday she won’t be voting for John’s PMB, citing international obligations and “discomfort” around the lack of “guardrails around implementation.” When asked for clarification, Bennett was not clear on what she meant by international obligations. — The timing: Decriminalization was granted 15 months after the B.C. government requested the exemption to Ottawa. Coroners service data suggests at least 9,528 people have died from illicit drug toxicity in B.C. since the province declared a public health emergency over the opioid crisis in April 2016. Nationally, government data suggests at least 26,690 deaths were attributed to apparent opioid toxicity between January 2016 and September 2021. NEW PITCH — Opposition House Leader JOHN BRASSARD isn’t a fan of hybrid sittings and argues the arrangement is “unsustainable” for interpreters dealing with WFH audio. The current all-party hybrid Parliament agreement will expire June 23. Brassard wrote a letter to Government House Leader MARK HOLLAND Tuesday expressing his desire to see a “full-fledged return to traditional, in-person sittings” of the House with MPs. His letter included a draft motion for House arrangements he’s proposing to start June 24 until June 23, 2023. Brassard says he wants a new deal that puts interpreters’ health first, which he believes can only be achieved with a return back to in-personal sittings. Canada’s bilingual Parliament is at stake, he argues. “I will not stand idly by, watching our bilingual Parliament roll back to a state where Canadians’ elected representatives are unintelligible to one another.”
| | CONSERVATIVE CORNER | | It’s JEAN CHAREST’s turn in The Herle Burly pod’s hot seat to exude confidence in his campaign’s calculus to snatch the Conservative leadership. “We sort of had a path where we thought if we’re able to work in areas where our vote is efficient, it’s 100 points per riding, and if Mr. POILIEVRE is not winning on the first ballot, then we have it within reach. And I don’t see him winning on the first ballot.” — What’s next: Campaign teams have until Friday to convince supporters to buy Conservative party memberships to be eligible to vote for a new leader on September 10.
| | For your radar | | | 
| CIRCLE GAME — Rarely have recent election campaigns in Canada ended the way they started with regards to voting intentions — and yet that’s where Ontario is likely headed Thursday according to columnist PHILLIPE J. FOURNIER’s latest polling analysis. Where it started was with Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader DOUG FORD as premier. Running the 338Canada model for 100,000 simulations, FOURNIER writes the PC wins more than 63 seats in 87 percent of all simulations, or roughly 7 of 8. “A second straight Ford majority is not a done deal, but it’s the most likely scenario.” Read Fournier here.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | 8 a.m. Defense Minister ANITA ANAND will deliver a keynote address to the CANSEC trade show. 9:30 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH attends his party’s national caucus meeting. He joins NDP MP GORD JOHNS for a 12:30 p.m. media availability about Bill C-216. 10 a.m. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will attend the Liberals’ national caucus meeting. He’s slated to attend question period at 2 p.m. 10 a.m. The Bank of Canada will announce its interest rate decision. 11:30 a.m. Federal Privacy Commissioner DANIEL THERRIEN presents the results of a two-year joint investigation into Tim Hortons’ mobile app following concerns about its collection of users’ geolocation data. 3:30 p.m. Labor Minister SEAMUS O’REGAN and Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON, along with five department officials, will appear at the House natural resources committee to field MPs’ questions about a fair and equitable energy transition. 3:45 p.m. Women and Gender Equality Minister MARCI IEN holds a media availability after raising the Pride flag on parliament Hill. PM TRUDEAU and Tourism Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT are also expected to be in attendance. 4:15 p.m. Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI and four senior department officials are dropping by the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee to discuss the budget implementation bill.
| | MEDIA ROOM | | — DANIEL LIPPMAN reports in POLITICO on the trends behind an exodus of Black staffers leaving the White House since late last year. — From ERIN GEE and ERICA IFILL in Chatelaine: Where Ontario parties stand on key issues this election — “We have to learn to live with Covid-19” is the new catch phrase — even if we don’t all share in the virus’s effects equally,” editor JESSICA JOHNSON writes in The Walrus. “We’ve mostly had to make our own decisions about masks and whether to observe five or 10 days of isolation. With the shift to personal responsibility, we are micromanaging 38 million pandemics instead of working together to stop a single, national one.” — On the latest edition of The Hub Dialogues, SEAN SPEER talks to security expert STEPHANIE CARVIN. You can listen here, or read the transcript. — CATHERINE GRIWKOWSKY joined The Backbench crew to talk Alberta politics — with and without JASON KENNEY. — McGill University’s CHRIS RAGAN: Why politics and central banking shouldn't mix.
| | PROZONE | | If you’re a POLITICO Pro , don’t miss our latest policy newsletter by ANDY BLATCHFORD: Joly defends Canada’s Indo-Pacific presence. In other headlines for Pros:
— Basel Committee to finalize crypto standards this year.
— Only Black Sea ships will allow Ukraine to feed the world again.
— EU leaders agree on Russian oil embargo.
— Spiking temperatures could cause more blackouts this summer. They won't be the last.
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | Birthdays: HBD to PERRIN BEATTY, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Conservative MP LARRY MAGUIRE, Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER and Vaughan Mayor MAURIZIO BEVILACQUA. IAIN ANGUS — former MP, MPP and city councilor, also celebrates today. HBD + 1 to CAM HOLMSTROM. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: ANTHONY ROTA back in the Speaker’s chair after surgery. “Thank you all for the texts, the calls, the emails, the fruit baskets, the flowers, the plants,” he told MPs in the House. International Trade Minister MARY NG whipping out the Hill set da bin lo with Liberal MPs FRANCESCO SORBARA, HELENA JACZEK and PAUL CHIANG. Cabinet minister MARCI IEN in conversation with FRED VANVLEET of the Raptors. Calgary MP GEORGE CHAHAL sporting an Edmonton Oilers’ jersey. “Mr. Speaker, to quote Andrew Brown from CBC Calgary, ‘You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, unless CONNOR MCDAVID also wants that thing,’” the Calgary Flames booster told the House. Movers and shakers: Saskatchewan cabinet shuffle: BRONWYN EYRE becomes the first woman to be appointed the province’s justice minister and attorney general … JIM REITER moves into the energy and resources portfolio … GORDON WYANT takes on the advanced education role … GENE MAKOWSKY moves into social services … LORI CARR takes on SaskBuilds and procurement, the Public Service Commission and the province’s liquor and gaming authority … New faces to cabinet include JEREMY COCKRILL (minister of highways and the Water Security Agency) and ANA SKOROPAD as environment minister. Media mentions: Journalist NOJOUD AL MALLEES will join CP’s Ottawa bureau on July 4 on the economics beat … CP reporter MAAN ALHMIDI and HANEN NANAA shared some breaking news: “Engaged.” Congrats to all the winners in the Digital Publishing Awards. Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.
| | HOUSE BUSINESS | | Keep up to House committee schedules here. Find Senate meeting schedules here. 12 p.m. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association will speak at the Senate national security and defense committee meeting on Bill S-7. 3:30 p.m. The House international trade committee meets to continue its study of Indo-Pacific opportunities for Canadian businesses. Witnesses include CHRIS DAVISON of the Canola Council of Canada, Pulse Canada’s MAC ROSS and Grain Growers of Canada’s ERIN GOWRILUK. 3:30 p.m. The House official languages committee meets in camera for the first half of its meeting. The second half is public-facing, with MPs slated to continue their study of Canadian National with an appearance from the railway company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Robinson. 3:30 p.m. The House health committee will hear from a trio of medical experts as they continue to study the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of the pandemic. 3:30 p.m. The house heritage committee meets on Bill C-11. J.J. MCCULLOUGH is first on roster, which includes BCE Inc., Black Screen Office, Canadian Media Producers Association and others. 6:30 p.m. It’s a clause-by-clause consideration day at the Senate’s energy, the environment and natural resources committee as senators swept through Bill S-5. 6:30 p.m. The Senate banking, trade and commerce committee meets partially in camera, but not in the first part of the meeting where Senators ROBERT BLACK, FABIAN MANNING and RATNA OMIDVAR are slated as witnesses on Bill S-6. Behind closed doors: 3:30 p.m. The House national defense committee meets to consider a draft copy of its report on threat analysis affecting Canada and the military’s operational readiness.
| | Talk of the town | | YOU ARE INVITED — There is still some room at our LIVE Trivia event June 9 at the METROPOLITAIN in Ottawa. Gather a team of friends and co-workers, then send us an RSVP to reserve.
| | TRIVIA | | Tuesday’s answer: The P.E.I. legislature wants the Confederation Bridge to be renamed Epekwitk Crossing. Props to EMMA VANDERMEER, JENN KEAY, NANCY WAUGH, KEVIN BOSCH, MICHAEL MACDONALD, PETER MCKINNEY, BOB GORDON, BRAM ABRAMSON, BEN ROTH, HARRY MCKONE, MARK GREENAN, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, LORENZO O. GRANDINI, GWENDOLYN MONCRIEFF-GOULD and DOUG RICE. Wednesday’s question: Born on this day, name the Canadian-American who said the following: “What's that line from T.S. Eliot? To arrive at the place where you started, but to know it for the first time. I'm able to write about a breakup from a different place. Same brokenness. Same rock-bottom. But a little more informed, now I'm older. Thank God for growing up.” Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen without Luiza Ch. Savage, editor Sue Allan and Raymond Rapada. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
