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Presented by General Atomics Aeronautical: A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey | | | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Nick | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey. This morning, we're in conversation with Alberta NDP leader RACHEL NOTLEY. Also, Ontarians vote today and there's drama from Ottawa to Port Colborne. Plus: If PIERRE POILIEVRE wasn't at Saturday night's Press Gallery dinner, where was he? Read on for the answer. Did someone forward you this edition? Click here to sign up for your own.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | NO PIVOT — We start in Alberta, where Premier DANIELLE SMITH told her party at a weekend AGM that she means what she says about her yet-to-be-tabled sovereignty act. "When Ottawa seeks to take control of our sovereign areas of provincial jurisdiction, our UCP government will not enforce those laws or policies in this province, period," she said. "My friends, I did not campaign by saying things to win your favor and your votes only to change the channel on you later. We will get this done." Sounds like the assuredness of a certain Leader of the Official Opposition in Ottawa. You can almost hear the sighing on Wellington Street as Supreme Court clerks wrap their heads around an inevitable court challenge. — That sounds familiar: Smith took reporters' questions Saturday. When asked to clarify remarks she'd made a day earlier on a Western Standard live stream that sure sounded critical of the World Economic Forum , she clapped back. "There are certain forums that are entertainment forums," she told the journalists. "I was on an entertainment forum for a long time, Corus Entertainment. I recognize that you're in the industry of making sure that you find the most outrageous statements so that you can get a lot of clicks." Reporters in Ottawa sure recognize the combativeness. As of Friday, the testy developing relationship between PIERRE POILIEVRE and scribes will be managed, if that's possible, by brand-new d-comm BEN WOODFINDEN — an academic conservative whose style to date is more ponderous than punchy .
| | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada: Leveraging the well-proven MQ-9 platform that has supported Five Eyes and NATO missions for more than a decade, Team SkyGuardian brings together the best in business and technology to serve Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the many industries that support them. Our government and industry team will help ensure Canada’s safety and security for the long term. | | | | 
Canadian oil leaders are eager to find out whether Rachel Notley, leader of Alberta's New Democratic Party, is a friend or foe. | Photo by Nathan Denette, courtesy of AP Images. | ON THE LEFT — Alberta New Democrats held a convention in Calgary over the weekend — the party's last chance to get together before the 2023 campaign. RACHEL NOTLEY spoke to Playbook on the eve of the confab. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Chrystia Freeland was just in Alberta, where she met with labor groups and delivered a speech that warned of tough economic times ahead. The cost of living is a constant issue. How do you judge the Liberal government's handling of the economy? My focus mostly has been on how our provincial government has been there, or not been there as the case may be, with respect to the interests of Albertans. During the pandemic, a lot of Albertans, like all Canadians, appreciated supports from the federal government. But we also know that going forward, we have to build an economic recovery that works for all Albertans. The politics of blaming everyone else is very popular these days. But my focus really is on talking about what we can do to make life better for Albertans, particularly when it comes to affordability, when it comes to the crisis in our health care, and when it comes to building a resilient jobs economy. The new premier is proposing a sovereignty act that will aim to allow the province to not enforce certain federal laws. A lot of people outside Alberta see it as an absurd proposal. But how do you speak to Albertans who might rally around the idea of a sovereignty act? Some Albertans do have legitimate reasons to be frustrated with decisions taken by Ottawa — without question. The fiscal stabilization formula still hasn't been fixed and the fallout from Bill C-69 continues to be a problem for many people in different provinces, including in Alberta, particularly when it comes to their economic development. The way to address that issue is to propose solutions that are real, and that are actually likely to achieve positive outcomes. The sovereignty act is not that thing. The sovereignty act is illegal, is not real. If the premier tries to put it in force, it will actually destabilize our economy. It will create investor uncertainty. As much as political observers like to make fun of how far off the mainstream it is, it actually will hurt people. It will hurt people that need our economy to grow and who need their jobs to be there for them. So it's actually quite a serious problem. That's what I would say to people who have been drawn into that manipulative and cynical narrative. The premier says the sovereignty act would elevate Alberta to a senior player in Confederation. You've been premier before. How do you think the rest of the country views Alberta? Historically, there have been times when Alberta has played a senior role in Confederation, where we have been a leader, where the rest of the country has listened to us. I like to think there was a period of that time when we were in government. There was a period of that time when Peter Lougheed was in government. We are, population-wise, the fourth largest province. In terms of economic contribution, probably the second-largest province. And we have a tremendous impact on the course of events in the country. And so we should be listened to. At the same time, I don't know how you expect to be listened to if you if you've always got it dialed up to a nine, and the rest of the country needs you down at about a six in order to be able to actually hear what you're saying. Danielle Smith is just carrying on this constant, combative relationship. It is designed for the audience back home. It's not actually designed for advancing the interests of Alberta on the national stage.
| | For your radar | | VOTING DAY — Ontarians elect their new — or returning — municipal leaders today. Polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Playbook has five races to watch. (No, JOHN TORY's Toronto didn't make the cut.) Ottawa: All bets are off in the nation's capital. Here's how it boils down: If CATHERINE MCKENNEY's downtown voter base and near-core strength is more motivated than MARK SUTCLIFFE's power centers in suburban and rural Ottawa, McKenney could win handily. But Sutcliffe's potential voter pool may be larger. They're neck and neck in polls. It's all about getting out the vote. The race got chippy during its final weekend. As Sutcliffe raced to set foot in all 24 wards, McKenney supporter and former central banker MARK CARNEY complained that an unknown assailant had replaced his lawn sign with that of the rival campaign . Sutcliffe's campaign manager, SABRINA GROVER, fired back on Twitter: "I didn't realize that our signs had made it all the way to Davos. Have a nice day!" Alas, that particular joke was not long for this world. Meanwhile, former Calgary mayor NAHEED NENSHI had a word for the Ottawa Police Services Board's appointment of a new Ottawa police chief on the eve of the election: "crazy." The board's chair, ELI EL-CHANTIRY, isn't running for reelection. He's also a Sutcliffe campaign co-chair. Awkward. The campaigns have traded big-name endorsements for weeks. Sutcliffe scored nods from the vast majority of current and former elected people in the city. McKenney's campaign will return fire with a final list of campaign donors today. Expect notable names. We noted entrepreneur ADAM MIRON ponied up C$1,200. Brampton: Mayor PATRICK BROWN's re-election bid has been mired in near-constant scandal. The latest from local newshounds at The Pointer accuses Brown of charging Bramptonians for social media services deployed on his failed Tory leadership campaign . The outlet also recently called Brown a liar . Meanwhile, city hall whistleblower and mayoral challenger NIKKI KAUR — whose team includes pitbull pollster NICK KOUVALIS — claims the race is too close to call. Kouvalis's most recent internal polling pegs Kaur at 44 percent and Brown at 43. The x-factor in most municipal races is turnout. Even a representative sample of residents can be wildly inaccurate if turnout is low and one campaign outhustles its rival. Hamilton: Not long after former Ontario NDP leader ANDREA HORWATH stepped down from that post following a fourth-straight election loss, she jumped into the mayor's race in Steeltown. A Mainstreet poll gives Horwath an 8-point edge over KEANIN LOOMIS — and a commanding lead over former mayor and MP BOB BRATINA. Vaughan: Former provincial Liberal leader STEVEN DEL DUCA is also looking for new life at the municipal level. Fresh off a devastating loss in his only campaign as leader, Del Duca hopes to win the suburb he once represented at Queen's Park. A Mainstreet poll gives him the lead . Port Colborne: The city on the shores of Lake Erie will vote in either CHARLES STEELE or BILL STEELE — estranged brothers who hadn't spoken for decades before they met on a debate stage . Bill is the incumbent. Charles is the challenger. No other candidates are on the ballot.
| | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada:   | | | | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will speak with Ethiopian PM ABIY AHMED. He'll also vote in the municipal election. (Will he side with McKenney, whose supporters include one of his former advisers, TYLER MEREDITH, and one of his star Cabinet recruits, CATHERINE MCKENNA? Or will he vote for Sutcliffe, whose endorsements include just about every Liberal MP in the Ottawa area?) 10 a.m. Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS will be at the Ottawa Hospital to announce support for patient-oriented research in Ontario. Treasury Board President MONA FORTIER will also be in the room. 11 a.m. Rural Economic Development Minister GUDIE HUTCHINGS will visit the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario in Woodbridge, Ontario. 1:40 p.m. Bloc Québécois House Leader ALAIN THERRIEN and revenue critic JEAN-DENIS GARON will hold a news conference on Bill C-31 — the "rental/dental" bill, as it's known in government circles. 2:30 p.m. Trudeau will meet with Nunavut Premier P.J. AKEEAGOK. 3:30 p.m. Trudeau will meet with Edmonton mayor AMARJEET SOHI. Tourism Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT will also be in attendance. 5:30 p.m. Hutchings will tour Kinghaven Farms in King City.
| | MEDIA ROOM | | — Top of Newswatch this morning via JONATHON GATEHOUSE: Ottawa's pandemic hiring boom adds billions to federal payroll. — The Decibel pod today checks in on Prince Edward Island a month after Fiona. — JAGMEET SINGH told CTV's Question Period on Sunday that his party could prop up the Liberals even if the Rouleau Commission determines the government's use of the Emergencies Act was unjustified. Singh told the network he needs to see all the facts, but "simply because it was the wrong decision wouldn't be enough for us to break, or to force the country into an election." — MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER advises the Parliamentary Press Gallery to seriously change the format of its annual "nerdprom" gala — or scrap it entirely . MRG's beef? The Gallery exec unfairly gave the PM free reign on attacking PIERRE POILIEVRE. What she didn't mention? Journalists gave themselves free reign on roasting the PM. And Poilievre declined an open invite to do his worst. — The Globe and Mail's TOM CARDOSO writes what researcher MICHAEL DAGG's death says about Canada’s broken access-to-information system . — PAUL WELLS delivers a longread on last week's testimony at the Rouleau Commission.
| | PROZONE | | For POLITICO Pro s, catch up to our latest policy newsletter by ZI-ANN LUM: Who wants what from Freeland In headlines for POLITICO Pro s: — Texas sues Google over biometric data collection.
— Appeals court sends BP fine back to FERC despite upholding market manipulation finding.
— House GOP previews investigation of USTR over Covid patent waiver.
— EU countries to call for raising climate pledges ahead of COP27.
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | Birthdays: HBD to Hamilton mayoral candidate ANDREA HORWATH, 60 today. Also celebrating: DAN ALLAN of CIVIX, Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA, Liberal MP MAJID JOWHARI and former NDP leader TOM MULCAIR. HBD to former MPs BILL KNIGHT, ROD LAPORTE and ALAIN GIGUERE, former Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature ROY BOUDREAU and Nova Scotia MLA KEITH BAIN. CBC's GINELLA MASSA welcomed a baby girl into the world on Friday. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . Spotted: On the way into the Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner: U.S. Ambassador DAVID COHEN in conversation with Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY and the PM’s Deputy Chief of Staff, BRIAN CLOW … Cohen, later posing with the PM’s Chief of Staff KATIE TELFORD, Innovation Minister PHILIPPE-FRANÇOIS CHAMPAGNE, British High Commissioner SUSANNAH GOSHKO and a crew from Bloomberg (one of the night's major sponsors). The absent-from-the-dinner PIERRE POILIEVRE, at Filipino radio station Tinig Pinoy's 30th-anniversary gala (seated at Table 29) … Liberal Cabmin SEAN FRASER and double-parlsec GREG FERGUS managed to attend both events. At Ontario's PC convention, fellow conservative premiers BLAINE HIGGS, SCOTT MOE and TIM HOUSTON … At the same confab, McMillan Vantage's MARISA MASLINK winning the award for Best Campaign Manager in Ford's re-election win. MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER, who delayed House debate on her pro-crypto Bill C-249 to buy time to gather all-party support, attending last week's Canadian Blockchain Summit … MELANIE PARADIS, circling Lake Ontario to buy Tylenol for her kid in New York: "It continues to be surreal to me that I have to go to another country for such basics." Hitched: National Post reporter RYAN TUMILTY and former Liberal Hill staffer DIANA MENDES. Spotted at the Sandy Hill party: CHRIS NARDI, MURAD HEMMADI, ALEX BALLINGALL, KEITH GEREIN, TRISH AUDETTE-LONGO, JOHN IVISON, MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH and KEITH BONNELL. Oh, and Bloomberg reporter JOSH WINGROVE , who crossed the river to attend the Press Gallery Dinner. Movers and shakers: JENNIFER KUSS, most recently d-comm to Fisheries Minister JOYCE MURRAY, is the new chief of staff to Federal Economic Development for Southern Ontario Minister FILOMENA TASSI … ALICE HANSEN takes over as d-comm to Trade Minister MARY NG. — The PM shuffled the senior ranks of the public service Friday. At Fisheries and Oceans, ANNETTE GIBBONS will become DM and KEVIN BROSSEAU associate DM. Gibbons replaces TIM SARGENT, who quietly and abruptly left the public service last week (as first reported by Playbook). LAWRENCE HANSON, the acting DM at DFO since June, will take on the role of associate deputy minister of Environment and Climate Change. CATHERINE BLEWETT will be president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, in addition to her current role as DM of Economic Development. (Current president FRANCIS MCGUIRE is retiring from the public service.) DOMINIC ROCHON will be associate deputy minister of transport; SUZY MCDONALD is headed to Agriculture and Agri-Food where she’lll be associate DM; and FRANCIS TRUDEL has been tapped to be associate chief human resources officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Farewells: The Globe’s KATHY MILLS retires today. “Working with Kathy over the last decade has made me an immeasurably better writer,” JOSH O’KANE shared on Twitter . “She’s the kind of classic ‘newspaper institution’ that raises the bar for everyone around her. She’ll be greatly missed.” ALAN BLACK, a longtime journalist with The Canadian Press, died last week. He was 64. Read his obituary here .
| | On the Hill | | → Find the latest on House committee meetings here . → Keep track of Senate committee meetings here . — Transport Canada will launch online public consultations on hydrology and proposed mitigation measures related to the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project. 11 a.m. The House Indigenous and northern affairs committee meets to continue its study of Bill C-29 . 11 a.m. The House operations committee will be focused on air defense contracts and the outsourcing of work. 11 a.m. The House industry committee has a full schedule behind closed doors. It plans to consider a draft letter to the minister on service outages, follow up on a report on the outages, and will discuss its report on economic development. 11 a.m. The House veteran affairs committee convenes for its second meeting studying allegations about medically assisted death being offered unprompted to a veteran by a Veterans Affairs Canada employee. 11 a.m. Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI will be at the House justice committee on Bill C-28. 1:30 p.m. Human Concern International holds a press conference in West Block to bring attention to climate justice and flood relief in Pakistan. 3:30 p.m. Cabinet ministers AHMED HUSSEN and JEAN-YVES DUCLOS will be at the House health committee. 3:30 p.m. The House agriculture committee will hear from stakeholders on Bill C-234 . 3:30 p.m. The House finance committee will hear from a sweep of organizations for its pre-budget 2023 consultations including the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Équiterre. 3:30 p.m. The House human resources committee will meet in camera to elect vice chairs and to discuss a report on labor shortages. 3:30 p.m. The House ethics committee will consider Canada’s Access to Information System. 3:30 p.m. A meeting of the House public safety committee has been requested by MPs in light of new details into allegations about interference in the Nova Scotia Mass Murder Investigation. 4 p.m. The Senate human rights committee meets to continue its study of Islamophobia in Canada with witnesses including Canadian Council of Muslim Women Executive Director NUZHAT JAFRI. 4 p.m. The Senate national security committee will hear from Public Services and Procurement Canada and Canadian Coast Guard department officials as part of its study looking at Arctic security and defense. 4 p.m. The Senate official languages committee meets to study Bill C-13 . 7 p.m. The House health committee is scheduled to meet on Bill C-31 .
| | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada: Learn about the remotely piloted multi-mission aircraft building Canadian industrial partnerships that deliver sovereignty and security for Canada. | | | | | TRIVIA | | Friday’s answer: The Canadian leader who used an undersized fish and an illegally sized net to make his point at the United Nations: Captain Canada BRIAN TOBIN. Reader DAN MCCARTHY writes: “DFO Minister had the seized Spanish net hauled down to New York and hoisted on a crane by the U.N. He held up a turbot, and described the species as ‘clinging by its fingertips.’ The mesh on that net was so tight a good sized beetle would have difficulty making it through.” Props to NANCI WAUGH, ANDREW SZENDE, BRAD WRIGHT, DEAN PETERS, BRIAN GILBERTSON, MAUREEN MACGILLIVRAY ALYSON FAIR, GUY SKIPWORTH, DALE BARBOUR, DANIEL PROUSSALIDIS, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, GREG MACEACHERN, KEVIN COLBOURNE, SEAN WEBSTER, JOHN ECKER, SUSAN KEYS, PATRICK DION, NATHAN GORDON and BRENNAN GOREHAM. Today’s question: Who hit a two-run double in the 11th inning of Game 6 on this date in 1992? For bonus marks, tell us who he batted in. Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen without Luiza Ch. Savage and editor Sue Allan. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
