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A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum and Maura Forrest | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Zi-Ann | Email Maura Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I’m your host Zi-Ann Lum with Maura Forrest. This morning, we take you inside the Canadian American Business Council's gala which happened to be a who's who kind of event. Biden's envoy admitted to the crowd there that he was surprised by Ottawa's new, tougher language on China. Plus, documents filed in the House of Commons reveal the Canada Revenue Agency has sent out CERB repayment notices totaling C$1.2 billion.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
CAPITAL LOVE-IN — The mood was celebratory at the Canadian American Business Council gala in Ottawa’s Shaw Centre on Tuesday night.
U.S. Ambassador DAVID COHEN summed up the state of U.S.-Canada relationship in one word: "Excellent." Cohen, who has been on the job for 11 months, quipped that his wife ribs him for seeing more of Canada in his short tenure than he has of the U.S. in 50 years. The mostly Canadian crowd loved it. Just like they loved Cohen's walk-up music: Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" — a classic bop that doubled as a callback to the U.S. ambo's Philly roots. Cohen shared the stage with Defense Minister ANITA ANAND, who repeated the current refrain that Ottawa's Indo-Pacific strategy will be out in the coming weeks. Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY's policy sneak peek last week seems to have quenched the Biden administration's thirst for details. The dinner crowd listened intently while poking at its starters. Cohen said the language in Joly's partial strategy release "far exceeded" what was expected on China. He said so far it is "completely synced up" with the Biden administration's policy. "I'm not saying anyone is copying anyone's homework," Cohen said cheekily. Nobody mentioned DONALD TRUMP’s name on stage. The 45th president confirmed later in the night that he’s running for president again. — Spotted in the crowd: BRUCE HEYMAN, ANTHONY ROTA, CHANTAL PICÉ-ROTA, STEVE MACKINNON, JOHN MCKAY, RACHEL BENDAYAN, CANDICE BERGEN, STEPHANIE KUSIE, RANDY HOBACK, PHIL LAWRENCE, MELISSA LANTSMAN, LIANNE ROOD, FRANCESCO SORBARA, JANICE NICHOLSON, JASON EASTON, ANTHONY KOCH. Plus: JENNI BYRNE, JAMES MOORE, RAY NOVAK, GARY DOER, DAVID JACOBSON, KHAWAR NASIM, VANDANA KATTAR, LAWRENCE CANNON, BRYAN DETCHOU, ROCCO ROSSI, MONICA MASCIANTONIO, GREG MACEACHERN, MARIO LAVOIE, TYLER MEREDITH and JOANNE DOBSON. Plus, plus: PAUL WELLS, EVAN SOLOMON, JENNIFER CHEVALIER, MURAD HEMMADI, CHRIS HALL, TOM CLARK, SUSAN DELACOURT. — Best line of the night: Host JOYCE NAPIER warming up the house with the joke: "I get to host Scotty's thing." Scotty as in Canadian American Business Council CEO SCOTTY GREENWOOD. — Best creative scoops : Four Ben & Jerry ice creams rebranded with some apropos names: NEXUS Nirvana (caramel ice cream with salted caramel twists), border vanilla bean (with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces), Slava Ukrani coffee ice cream (featuring chunks of espresso bean fudge), and NORAD nam nam (toasted marshmallow with graham cracker swirls). Do you enjoy Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who would like it, too . Point them to this link where they can sign up for free. | | For your radar | | | 
Mark Peterson/Redux Pictures for POLITICO |
HE’S IN — Buckle up. Former president DONALD TRUMP confirmed in a primetime event Tuesday that he’s running for his old job again.
“There has never been anything like it, this great movement of ours. … And perhaps there will never be anything like it again,” Trump touted to the crowd at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. “America’s comeback starts right now.” POLITICO’s CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO, MERIDITH MCGRAW and ALEX ISENSTADT have more details about the lay of Trump land 2.0 . — Burning ears: Canada got a name mention when Trump brought up NAFTA, or as he still calls it, “the worst trade deal ever made.” The deal was replaced in 2020 with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has a different acronym depending on which part of North America you’re standing in. And Trump’s potential return could bring new headwinds for the trade pact, regardless of its 16-year sunset clause. — What trade hawks are watching: There’s a formal USMCA review due six years after implementation where it will be up to the three countries to decide whether or not to continue the agreement. Six years after implementation is 2026 — two years after the next U.S. election. APP FOR THAT — Conservative House Leader ANDREW SCHEER attempted to amend a Liberal motion to extend sittings by guaranteeing House resources wouldn't be snatched away from committees. It failed. A vote on the amendment and motion happened when several MPs were at the CABC gala. Playbook watched several politicians whip out their voting app to avoid rushing to the House and back. | | | | DON’T MISS A THING FROM THE MILKEN INSTITUTE’S MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA SUMMIT: POLITICO is partnering with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Digital Future Daily" newsletter with insider reporting and insights from the Milken Institute's Middle East and Africa Summit happening November 17-18. Hundreds of global leaders will convene, highlighting the important role connection plays in advancing global well-being. Whether you’re in-person at the event or following online, sign up for this special edition newsletter for daily coverage of the event. SUBSCRIBE TODAY . | | | | | | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | |
— NATO Secretary-General JENS STOLTENBERG will chair an emergency meeting of alliance ambassadors after a missile hit Poland on Tuesday. In Bali at the G-20, U.S. President JOE BIDEN convened leaders of the G-7 and the European Union.
— It’s caucus day on the Hill. — Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Ottawa and will attend the Liberals' 10 a.m. caucus meeting. 9:30 a.m. The Public Order Emergency Commission continues hearings in Ottawa. Today’s witnesses are former CBSA president JOHN OSSOWSKI and Transport Canada Deputy Minister MICHAEL KEENAN and the department’s chief economist CHRISTIAN DEA. 9:30 a.m. Families Minister KARINA GOULD is traveling to an Ottawa elementary school to make an announcement about the launch of an online questionnaire to shape a national school food policy. 12:15 p.m. (9:15 PT) Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA has plans to make a virtual announcement, promising funding for the Port of Prince Rupert, a site recently toured by NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH and NDP MP TAYLOR BACHRACH. 12:30 p.m. Singh will meet with Unifor President LANA PAYNE before holding a 2 p.m. media availability before question period. 6:45 p.m. CRTC Chair IAN SCOTT will be at the Senate transport and communications committee to take questions about Bill C-11 before senators move in-camera to discuss “future business.” | | PAPER TRAIL | |
PLEASE GIVE IT BACK — The Canada Revenue Agency has so far sent out more than 260,000 notices to people it thinks should pay back pandemic benefits.
Those repayment notices total C$1.2 billion, according to a document tabled in the House of Commons this week. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was rolled out at the start of the pandemic to provide rapid relief to the millions of Canadians who had lost work due to Covid lockdowns. The program took an attestation approach to get money out the door quickly. The CRA warned from the start that people would have to repay benefits to which they were not entitled. The CERB was eventually replaced by the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), which wrapped up last year. — The results so far: The CRA started sending out notices of “redetermination” in May 2022. In response to those 260,000 notices, the agency says 19,000 people have paid back benefits, totaling C$16 million. The agency says 341,000 people made voluntary repayments before May 2022, totaling C$910 million. The document doesn’t say how many notices the CRA plans to send out in total — or how much money it’s hoping to recoup. — The price tag: In September, Playbook reported that the CRA is expecting to spend C$430 million to recoup CERB and CRB payments, an effort that will continue until 2026. ANYBODY HOME? — The federal government spent C$43 million on contracts with private security companies to check whether returning travelers were respecting quarantine rules during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ottawa hired four companies to conduct compliance visits — essentially, knocking on people’s doors after they’d returned from abroad to ensure they were in quarantine. The contracts lasted from January 2021 to September 2022. The companies were GardaWorld (C$13 million), Paladin Security Solutions (C$14 million), Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (C$7 million) and G4S Secure Solutions (C$9 million). — Weak enforcement: The Public Health Agency of Canada has been criticized for failing to enforce quarantine orders, including in a report from auditor general KAREN HOGAN last December. “If you're going to create a requirement, one that you expect will be enforced nationally, you really have to have thought through the monitoring of it,” she said at the time . | | | | Tune in as international security leaders from democracies around the world discuss key challenges at the 14th annual Halifax International Security Forum live from Nova Scotia. As an official media partner, POLITICO will livestream the conversation beginning at 3 p.m. on November 18. The full three-day agenda is here . | | | | | | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro s, our latest policy newsletter by NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY and SUE ALLAN: Refrain of the day: Do better.
In news for POLITICO Pro s:
— Shocker: Budget watchdog calls for more transparency.
— USMCA auto trade ruling expected by year end.
— Egypt clean power-for-gas deal puts spotlight on rich countries' fossil fuel use.
— Why cheap U.S. gas costs a fortune in Europe.
— Pediatric groups push White House to declare an emergency for RSV, flu and mental health crises. | | MEDIA ROOM | | — Top of National Newswatch this morning via CP's DYLAN ROBERTSON: Chinese president accuses Trudeau of leaking details of conversation to media. — CBC's top story at this hour: Canadian hospitals have 'unprecedented' levels of seriously ill young patients. — LISA RAITT is on the Curse of Politics this week with a “Hey, you!” to Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE, “for bringing in a critical mineral strategy on foreign investment that’s confused everybody in the country. Maybe you should help us figure out what the hell you actually meant by it.” — The Big Story pod features Narwhal reporter DREW ANDERSON: Can Canada survive flooding? — Journalist and ATIP warrior DEAN BEEBY writes on the flawed budgeting process behind the information commissioner’s lapsed funding. — POLITICO’s SARAH FERRIS and NICHOLAS WU consider the ultimate midterm twist ending: Will Pelosi stay? — CHRISTOPHER SANDS, director of the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute, talks with SEAN SPEER about the midterms and the Canada-U.S. relationship. “On a day-to-day basis, are we still friends? Absolutely. Are things getting better? I think I can point to tangible ways in which they are getting better. But I think that we have some DIY to do.” — LEX HARVEY is on the This Matters pod to talk about the Arctic town Svalbard, “the fastest warming place on Earth.” | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to PETER H. RUSSELL, Canada’s “dean of political scientists.” He’s 90 today.
Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . Movers and shakers: Governor General MARY SIMON revealed a new list of Order of Canada appointees: “Life of Pi” author YANN MARTEL, Nobel laureate DONNA STRICKLAND, Globe and Mail publisher PHILLIP CRAWLEY, Bell Let’s Talk chair MARY DEACON, social justice advocate and former Ontario MPP CHERI DINOVO, ex-CBC Radio executive ERIC FRIESEN, former CBC journalist HANA GARTNER, former senator JANIS JOHNSON, former CTV Canada AM host BEVERLY THOMSON. Navigator’s Toronto office is welcoming a new face : HOLDEN WINE … STÉPHANIE CHOUINARD announced her cross appointment to the Canadian Forces College’ department of defense studies … BRUCE HEYMAN returned to Lornado . Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . | | On the Hill | |
→ Find upcoming House committees here
→ Keep track of Senate committees here 12 p.m. POLITICO hosts its 2nd annual defense summit: “ At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy .” Participants can join in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels. 12:30 p.m. HARJIT SAJJAN wears his hat as PacifiCan minister to announce the launch of new offices for the regional development agency in the southern interior of British Columbia. 4 p.m. The Senate foreign affairs and international trade committee meets to study Magnitsky sanctions and the Special Economic Measures Act with testimony from the Canadian Bankers Association’s ANGELINA MASON and the Royal Bank of Canada’s economic sanctions head STEPHEN ALSACE. 4 p.m. The Senate social affairs committee meets to study Canada’s temporary and migrant labor force. 4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee meets to study Bill S-205 . 4:30 p.m. The House transport committee continues its study of shipping and shoreway erosion. 4:30 p.m. The House human resources committee will consult experts and stakeholders on Bill C-22, Canada Disability Benefit Act. 6:45 p.m. The Senate Indigenous peoples committee meets to be briefed by Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief ELMER ST. PIERRE before moving on to continue its follow up of the Cannabis Act. Behind closed doors: The House liaison committee meets to elect a vice-chair; the Senate ethics committee meets to deliberate over the “consideration of matters.” | | TRIVIA | |
Tuesday’s answer: JOHN ROBERTS of the Fox News Channel was known as J.D. back in his CHUM and CITY-TV days — a fact many of you happened to know.
Hear Roberts talk about those days here. Props to LAWRENCE AGNEW, JOHN DILLON, RODDY MCFALL, DIANA LAWRENCE, GORDON RANDALL, ROSS LECLAIR, PATRICK DION, GUY SKIPWORTH, DEAN PETERS, DOUG RICE, DEREK LIPMAN, MAUREEN MACGILLIVRAY, BRAM ABRAMSON, ELIZABETH BURN, NANCI WAUGH, MICHAEL MACDONALD, STEPHEN KAROL, GORD MCINTOSH, AMY CASTLE, LAURA JARVIS, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, ANNE-MARIE STACEY, BRENDA NESBITT, LESLIE SWARTMAN, JOSEPH CHAMOUN, BOB ERNEST, WALTER ROBINSON, JOE MACDONALD and JENN KEAY. Wednesday's question: Name the professor who once told the House justice committee as it was studying the judicial appointment process: “I think Canadians are very tired of the two parties, Conservatives and Liberals, both saying, ‘You think we're bad? They were just as bad.’ I think that is just breeding cynicism among Canadian citizens.” Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Playbook can help. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com . Playbook wouldn’t happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage and Sue Allan.
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