The mayor's race splits Ottawa Liberals

From: POLITICO Ottawa Playbook - Thursday Sep 29,2022 10:00 am

Sep 29, 2022

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Thanks for reading the Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey. Today, a peek into what happens when federal and municipal politics collide on the Hill. Also, the more you know about ministerial car allowances. Plus, it's not gerrymandering — but federal riding redistribution is here, and it's messy.

DRIVING THE DAY

LIBERALS TAKE SIDES — The race for Ottawa's next mayor is heating up, and it's stirring up a partisan divide on the Hill. Nothing mean-spirited. So far, it's not awkward. But there's no incumbent in the running, and the Liberal flock is pulled in different directions by two rival candidates with serious backing.

— The state of play: The race's standout progressive candidate is CATHERINE MCKENNEY, a two-term city councilor and longtime city hall denizen. They're the choice of virtually every New Democrat in town, and likely to scoop up most votes in the city's core.

Then there's the stridently centrist MARK SUTCLIFFE, a broadcaster and columnist whose lengthy list of honorary campaign co-chairs includes Conservatives like MARJORY LEBRETON, a Tory operative for 50 years, and MICHELLE COATES-MATHER, the director of communications for the recent JEAN CHAREST leadership campaign.

— And then there's the Red team: Sutcliffe's campaign manager is SABRINA GROVER, a consultant who carried the Liberal banner in Calgary Centre in last year's election. Sutcliffe recruited a pair of suburban Liberal MPs, JENNA SUDDS in Kanata and MARIE-FRANCE LALONDE in Orleans, to his list of honorary co-chairs. LIAM ROCHE, a KPMG consultant who has toiled plenty for federal and provincial Liberals, is campaign spokesperson.

— Lo, a big get: McKenney announced a pair of co-chairs late Tuesday. One of them is VICKY SMALLMAN, director of human rights at the Canadian Labor Congress and veteran local New Democrat.

But the other is TYLER MEREDITH, an architect of JUSTIN TRUDEAU's platforms and budgets since 2016 who happens to be an old friend of McKenney's.

Meredith's name is synonymous with the Trudeau era's signature social and economic policy. And it's not like he's hiding it.

"Better is always possible," he tweeted, cheekily appropriating a Trudeau campaign slogan circa 2015. "And right now we have a chance to mark our ballots for real change, for the Ottawa we want." (The irony? Back in 2015, "real change" was Trudeau's rhetorical attempt to outflank the NDP as a progressive alternative to STEPHEN HARPER.)

Fun fact: Meredith is leaving Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND's office at the end of the month. His going-away party went down last night at the Rabbit Hole on Sparks, where the crowd eye-rolled at a certain local professor's incredulity. (Scroll down for SPOTTEDS.)

Meredith coming aboard isn't a "3D chess play or a signal" to fellow partisans, said one Liberal who's also in McKenney's orbit. "The main objective is probably to produce bullet-proof policy." Another Liberal-watcher said Meredith beefs up McKenney's "economic bonafides" for a voter pool that needed some reassurance before heading to the ballot box.

— It all boils down to this: Younger Liberals are openly flocking to McKenney. Centrists who identify as Blue Liberals are likely to bet on Sutcliffe.

If formal political parties duked it out at city hall, all these Grits would have a much easier time coalescing around a single candidate. But McKenney vs. Sutcliffe blurs those lines, and everybody on the Hill gets a free vote in the battle of center versus left.

— Reminder: Voting day is Oct. 24.

BOUNDARY BICKERING — Tap an MP's shoulder and ask for their opinion about the painstaking process of federal riding redistribution currently underway in every province. Odds are they'll have one.

Elected people are typically cautious about what they say on the record, lest they be accused of political interference. Sometimes they're not afraid to make their opinions known , but often they'll stick to tactful whispers.

Ontario is a minefield of dramatic boundary and riding name changes, as Playbook explored when the province's commission released its proposal in August.

— Vox populi: The commissioners who proposed new boundaries for Ontario's electoral districts took a hatchet to much of the province's existing map.

Public hearings in the province are just now getting underway.

The commission hosts a virtual hearing for the Toronto area at 6:30 p.m. Expect some civic-minded fireworks. The 416 stands to lose a seat in the city's east end due to population shrinkage, but the locals won't go quietly into the night. Tune in here.

— Brace for mail: Ontario's commissioners were inundated with registered participants for a month of hearings. Officially, the three-member panel chaired by a judge and filled out by poli-sci profs is "very pleased with the interest of the public and elected officials in our proposal. We welcome their input."

Unofficially, Playbook guesses they're, um, a tad overwhelmed. They're scheduling more hearings and extending a deadline for written submissions to Oct. 29.

Democracy. It's messy.

A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada:

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For your radar

CAR ALLOWANCE — Every Cabinet minister earns the standard MP salary of C$189,500, plus a C$90,400 top-up for their extra duties — a total of C$279,900 that one minister memorably lost track of on a hot mic.

But they also pocket an annual motor vehicle allowance of C$2,000. In addition, Cabinet ministers are also entitled to a car and driver, paid separately out of federal coffers. Drivers show up on the current staff lists of 14 ministers.

Confusing? Settle in for a brief history lesson (it's worth it).

— The history: In 1931, former prime minister R.B. BENNETT was cutting costs in the midst of the Great Depression. He found the cost of a car and driver exorbitant, so he called a taxi company in Ottawa — Red Line, PETER C. NEWMAN later wrote in Maclean's — to ask for the annual cost of a cab. The reply: C$2,000.

Later that year, Appropriation Act No. 5 formalized the allowance for the PM, his Cabinet and the leader of the Official Opposition. The speakers of Parliament each got C$1,000.

And so it remains to this day. (If Bennett had indexed the perk to inflation, it'd come in at C$37,802.47 in 2022 dollars.)

— Brass tacks: In her gossipy 1989 hardcover "Ottawa Inside Out," STEVIE CAMERON doesn't mince words. "The two grand has nothing to do with cars; it's a straight cash handout," she writes. "Not one politician would dare risk the wrath of his or her colleagues by campaigning to eliminate it."

— Ill-fated debates: Some have tried in vain.

In 1941, Conservative MP RODNEY ADAMSON said cutting the budget line would tell "the man in the factory who is asked to give up one hour, two hours, three hours or half a day's pay every week, that the government are willing to economize for this war effort right in the highest tribunal in the land."

In 1954, Sen. THOMAS REID told his chamber that some Cabinet ministers took the allowance even though they didn't own a car. (He didn't name names.)

A few weeks before the pandemic preoccupied Parliament, Tory MP KELLY MCCAULEY questioned then-middle class minister MONA FORTIER 's need for a car allowance given her riding sits next to the Hill. "Does the minister think a taxpayer-funded car allowance is a reality for middle-class Canadians, or is the reality another thing she cannot define?"

— The official word: To this day, the car cash is a "statutory allowance" paid automatically to recipients, according to Sec. 63(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act. It's not taxable.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

— PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine to meet with local seniors, fishers, and small business owners impacted by Hurricane Fiona. He'll be joined by Revenue Minister DIANE LEBOUTHILLIER.

— Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY is headed to Washington for two days. She'll meet U.S. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN and several members of Congress. Joly will participate in the Atlantic Council’s Front Page platform on defending Ukraine.

9:30 a.m. Green leadership candidates JONATHAN PEDNEAULT and ELIZABETH MAY will hold a news conference to discuss the causes and impacts of Hurricane Fiona.

9:30 a.m. The Parliamentary Budget Officer releases two reports: "House Price Assessment – Update" and “Temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit.”

3:15 p.m. NDP leader JAGMEET SINGH meets with AUTUMN PELTIER.

4:30 p.m. Singh will speak with AMANDA MCDOUGALL, the Mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada:

MEDIA ROOM

Wind gusts blow across palm trees in Sarasota Bay as Hurricane Ian churns to the south.

Hurricane Ian. | Sean Rayford/Getty Images

— Top of POLITICO this morning: As Ian batters Florida, Puerto Ricans fear being forgotten.

— The Canadian Press reports on Black civil servants filing a complaint to the United Nations Commission for Human Rights that accuses the federal government of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.

Hill Times columnist ERICA IFILL noted the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada lent support to the initiative.

— From RACHEL GILMORE and Global News: Jeremy Mackenzie arrested.

— The Angus Reid Institute pegs PIERRE POILIEVRE's favorability ratings in firmly negative territory: 35 percent positive, 51 percent negative. The pollster notes both former leaders ANDREW SCHEER and ERIN O'TOOLE had better numbers out of the gate.

Reminder: About a month before he won his only majority government, STEPHEN HARPER's favorability ratings according to the same pollster: 34 positive, 51 negative.

— JORDAN LEICHNITZ and KORY TENEYCKE are this week’s guests on an extra shouty edition of The Curse of Politics.

— MP TAYLOR BACHRACH shows up with MP NATE ERSKINE SMITH on the Uncommons pod to talk about Bill C-210, which sought to lower the voting age to 16 (and was voted down Wednesday at second reading).

— “As JASON KENNEY gets set to exit public life, it’s worth recognizing his immense contribution to the country in general and Canadian conservatism in particular,” SEAN SPEER writes.

— Kenney talks at length with PAUL WELLS about 25 years in politics, including a tumultuous pandemic that was a "buzzsaw" through the United Conservative voter coalition.

— Liberal parlsec ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER joined law professor MICHAEL GEIST on the LawBytes pod to discuss anti-semitism and LAITH MAROUF.

PROZONE

A customer unloads her shopping cart.

Price check on Parliament Hill. | Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

If you’re a , don’t miss our latest newsletter from SUE ALLAN: Blame game at the checkout

In other Pro headlines:

— NY pays Kodak twice: Once to make alcohol for hand sanitizer, and now to dispose of it.
— 8 things to know about the environmental impact of ‘unprecedented’ Nord Stream leaks.
— WTO countries seek to implement vaccine patent deal.
— ‘Grotesque’ Russian disinfo campaign mimicks Western news websites to sow dissent.
— Don't ‘gouge the American people,’ Biden warns oil industry as Ian nears.
— U.K. warns of tough flu season as Covid cases also rise.

PLAYBOOKERS

Birthdays: HBD to WWF President and CEO MEGAN LESLIE, Ontario Environment Minister DAVID PICCINI, former sergeant-at-arms and diplomat KEVIN VICKERS, retired senator and Toronto mayor ART EGGLETON, and former MP STELLA AMBLER.

Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

Spotted: At TYLER MEREDITH's going-away bash at the Rabbit Hole: CHRYSTIA FREELAND, KATIE TELFORD, BRIAN CLOW, MARJORIE MICHEL, CAMERON AHMAD, DAN ARNOLD, RACHEL BENDAYAN, JOEL BOWEN, LESLIE CHURCH, JUSTIN TO, DIAMOND ISINGER, CLAIRE SEABORN, and GREG MACEACHERN . Added one attendee: "Everyone who currently works at Finance."

ELECIA ELLIOTT, the outgoing scheduler in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, had her own going-away at Three Brewers half a block away. In that room: CHRIS MCCLUSKEY, GRAHAM FOX and CANDICE BERGEN.

Liberal MP CHANDRA ARYA, passing a unanimous motion in the House that declares November as Hindu Heritage Month … 19 Liberal MPs, voting to lower the voting age to 16.

CTV's GLEN MCGREGOR, sporting a Canadian tuxedo back in the day.

Movers and shakers: McCarthy Tétrault consultants GAJAN SATHANANTHAN and JOHN BOSCARIOL have taken on the case of LEV ARONOVICH KHASIS, a Russian-born corporate executive — and the 481st Russian individual slapped with sanctions by the federal government. Khasis's lawyers claim the sanctions were applied erroneously.

Media mentions: The 2022 Balsillie Prize for Public Policy shortlist, announced.

Farewells: MPs ANDY FILLMORE and DARREN FISHER used their members’ statements Wednesday to pay tribute to the life of JOHN A. YOUNG, former president of the Nova Scotia Liberals. Young, who died last month, served for four years as executive assistant to Canada’s first deputy prime minister, ALLAN MACEACHEN.

“John was one of my earliest supporters in political life, someone whose wise counsel I called upon often,” Fillmore told the House.

Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

On the Hill

— Find the latest House committee meetings here.

— Keep track of Senate committees here.

9 a.m. The Senate agriculture and forestry committee will pick up its study of soil health in Canada.

9 a.m. Officials from Clean Energy Canada, Electricity Canada, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, and Canada Energy Regulator will be at the Senate’s environment committee to discuss emerging issues.

11 a.m. ALEX MUNTER, CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, will be among witnesses at the House health committee. MPs are studying children’s health and will also hear from the chief of surgery from the Hospital for Sick Children and senior officials from other institutions.

11 a.m. The House committee on public safety and national security will meet to elect a chair.

11:30 a.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee will gather to discuss Bill C-5.

11:30 a.m. The House foreign affairs committee is studying foreign affairs and international trade. EMINE DZHAPAROVA, first deputy foreign affairs minister of Ukraine, is among the witnesses scheduled to appear.

11:30 a.m. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions CAROLYN BENNETT will be at the Senate social affairs committee to take questions on a federal framework for suicide prevention.

3:30 p.m. The House committee on the status of women is studying the mental health of young women and girls. On deck in this session will be representatives of BGC Canada, Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and the Take a Hike Foundation.

3:30 p.m. The House committee on justice and human rights will hear from SHERI ARSENAULT, IRVIN WALLER and JO-ANNE WEMMERS as it considers the government’s obligations to victims of crime.

3:30 p.m. IAN SCOTT and other CRTC officials will be at the House industry committee where MPs will be studying fraudulent calls in Canada.3:30 p.m. The House operations and estimates committee will hear from Leonardo Canada and Saab as it considers “air defense procurement projects.”

6:30 p.m. The Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency will hear from Sergeant-at-Arms PATRICK MCDONELL, JULIE LACROIX, director of corporate security at the Senate and senior officials with the Parliamentary Protective Service.

— Behind closed doors: Four House committees will gather in camera. This includes the House natural resources committee, which will be discussing its study on a greenhouse gas emission cap for the oil and gas sector.

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TRIVIA

Wednesday’s answer: Heather Bradley has served five Speakers of the House: GIB PARENT, PETER MILLIKEN, ANDREW SCHEER, GEOFF REGAN and ANTHONY ROTA.

Props to ALEX WELLSTEAD, LAURA PAYTON, LAURA JARVIS, STEVEN HOGUE, SHANE O’NEILL, PATRICK DION, PETER MCKINNEY, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and ANNE-MARIE STACEY.

Today’s question: Name the former MP who offered rookie parliamentarians this advice: “Find those constituents who are too busy doing good work to troll you. Turn your notifications off on your phone so you can choose when to engage the haters (or not) and focus on the people in front of you.”

Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com

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