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Presented by Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum and Maura Forrest | Presented by Inuvialuit Regional Corporation | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Zi-Ann | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I’m your host Zi-Ann Lum with Maura Forrest. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT talks about Canada and China’s dynamic at COP15. It’s high drama in the parliamentary press gallery. Plus, documents tabled in the House show Ottawa has signed 29 contracts worth C$73 million related to Roxham Road since January 2021. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
WHAT CHINA WANTS — It’s a little bit of a mystery at COP15 in Montreal.
Negotiators and experts say Beijing hasn’t been clear on what its desired outcome is at the biodiversity summit. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT tells Playbook it’s his belief the Chinese want an “ambitious global diversity framework for the post-2020 period.” More than 100 countries are striving toward a deal to protect 30 percent of the world's land and oceans by 2030. Guilbeault said he’s “very ambitious” a deal will be reached by the end of the two-week summit. Canada found itself as co-host after China’s “zero Covid” policy pushed Beijing to move the global United Nations biodiversity summit to Montreal. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU’s remarks at the summit’s opening ceremony Tuesday were interrupted by protesters who unfurled a banner reading, “Indigenous genocide = ecocide. To save biodiversity… stop invading our lands. Colonialism can’t save you.” Playbook’s question to Guilbeault: Do the protesters have a point? — His response: It’s “totally legitimate” for people to air their views and opinions in a free and democratic society, he said, a similar refrain used by the prime minister before he continued on with his speech. “Throughout the conference, you will see announcements, you will see Indigenous presence, [an] announcement for Indigenous-led conservation,” Guilbeault said. “We are working really hard to change the nature of our relationship with Indigenous people in Canada, but I can acknowledge, I can see and I can understand why for some people, it's not enough.” 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. | | | | A message from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: The Government of the Northwest Territories is fighting Indigenous rights at the Supreme Court. Inuvialuit people are taking action to protect our children and youth – but Premier Caroline Cochrane is seeking to stop us at the Supreme Court. Click here to learn more and help put an end to the centuries long policy of removing Indigenous children from their families, culture and communities. It is time to put Indigenous children back in Indigenous care. | | |
| | For your radar | |
HOW HIGH — Seventh time’s the charm?
The speculation heading into today’s Bank of Canada interest rate decision is it’s going up again for the seventh time this year. By how much depends on whom you ask. The Royal Bank of Canada wagers a 25-basis point jump, smaller than October’s 50-basis point hike. Bank of Canada Governor TIFF MACKLEM told a parliamentary committee last month that interest rates need to go up again to curb spending and cool labor market demand. He indulged in some light psychic reading at the time, saying, “We do think we're getting closer to the end.” The end of hikes trigger follow-up questions about how long high rates will stick around. — Later today: Bank on high interest rates, inflation and government spending to be topics of discussion when Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND appears at the Senate finance committee this evening to defend Bill C-32. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOT ROOM — Blacklock’s reporter TOM KORSKI was not escorted by a police officer out of the National Press Building last week, says Parliamentary Press Gallery President GUILLAUME ST-PIERRE. St-Pierre issued a statement Tuesday to “correct the record” after Blacklock’s claimed Korski was “ evicted ” from press gallery premises at 150 Wellington. Blacklocks’ account was shared by Tory MP DAN ALBAS and former journalist Sen. PAMELA WALLIN. — What the press gallery statement said: “Contrary to certain accounts of these events circulating on social media, Mr. Korski was not escorted by a police officer off the gallery premises, he was advised of the decision of the executive and given to the end of the day to comply with the decision by leaving the premises. “Mr. Korski was notified of the decision by the president of the press gallery, Guillaume St-Pierre, accompanied by the vice-president, Louis Blouin, on Friday, December 2.” The statement was similar to one sent to press gallery members Friday that made no mention of Korski’s name. It cited an unsuccessful mediation process to address a complaint of “serious misconduct” lodged from unnamed press gallery members that was determined to be “well-founded.” — What it didn’t say: Journalist HÉLÈNE BUZZETTI, a former press gallery president, elaborated on the nature of the complaint against Korski and the work environment in his part of the hot room. He “told his surrounding colleagues to «f–k off», call them «idiots» and threatens to sue them just because they asked he lowers sound of his tv,” Buzzetti tweeted. — Cooling off period: As punishment, Korski will lose access to press gallery-managed shared spaces (such as the co-working space for journalists in West Block) for 90 days. St-Pierre said Korski is still a member of the press gallery. The decision temporarily cuts Korski’s physical access to shared areas and doesn’t impact Blacklock’s second press gallery accredited journalist. Blacklock’s, in turn, has threatened court action. | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | |
— It’s caucus day on the Hill.
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Montreal for COP15. He has an announcement about “Indingeous-led conservation” and media availability with Guilbeault at 10 a.m. followed by a meeting with UN Secretary General ANTÓNIO GUTERRES at noon. — The Assembly of First Nations' Special Chiefs Assembly continues to meet in Ottawa. Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET and Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO are expected speakers . 9 a.m. Former prime minister STEPHEN HARPER opens the International Democrat Union forum in Washington, D.C. with Republican National Committee Chair RONNA MCDANIEL and former House speaker NEWT GINGRICH. Harper’s opening remarks will be followed by two separate fireside chats with Moldovian President MAIA SANDU and Sen. DAN SULLIVAN (R-Alaska). 10 a.m. The Bank of Canada announces its latest benchmark interest rate decision. 12 p.m. ROMÉO DALLAIRE will be a witness at the Senate veterans affairs committee . Senators are slated to continue their study of emerging treatments for veterans suffering from occupational stress injuries. 3 p.m. Trudeau has a meeting with Environment and Climate Change youth council members in Montreal with Guilbeault, a photo-op only availability for media. 4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee will hear from Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI as it meets to discuss Bill S-205 and self-induced intoxication in relation to the Criminal Code. 4:30 p.m. The House finance committee meets to continue its study of the “current state of fiscal federalism.” Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will be a witness. 4:30 p.m. Journalist DEAN BEEBY will be one of the witnesses before the House ethics committee as it studies the access to information and privacy system. 6 p.m. Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE holds a press conference to talk about new legislation to modernize the Investment Canada Act. Department officials have scheduled a media tech briefing an hour before the official announcement. 6:45 p.m. Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will be at the Senate national finance committee to take questions about Bill C-32 . | | | | A message from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation:   | | |
| | PAPER TRAIL | |
ROXHAM ROAD UPDATE — The federal immigration department has spent C$155 million related to the Roxham Road border crossing since January 2021, according to a document tabled in the House of Commons this week. The figures shed light on where a portion of funds are going about a contentious topic that continues to fuel political debate in vote-rich Quebec.
That money has covered health care, translation services, hotel rentals, meals and other costs for the tens of thousands of asylum seekers who’ve entered Canada along the rural road in Quebec. — The background: Roxham Road has been in the news for years, since the number of would-be refugees using it as an entry point spiked in 2017. Asylum seekers have flocked there because of an agreement between Canada and the U.S. that prevents them from entering the country at official border crossings. The flow of asylum seekers slowed to a trickle after Canada banned crossings through the pandemic. But the road reopened in November 2021, and record numbers have been crossing since then. So far this year, more than 30,000 people have entered at Roxham Road, compared to 4,000 last year. — The numbers: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spent close to C$62 million on the Roxham Road crossing in 2021. The majority of that — C$47 million — was spent in March on “professional and special services,” which includes health care and protection services. From January to October this year, the costs swelled to more than C$93 million. In addition, the Canada Border Services Agency says it has spent nearly C$40 million since January 2021 on its refugee processing center near the Roxham Road crossing, including C$12.6 million on staff salaries. — The investigation: In September, Radio-Canada found that Canada had spent more than C$500 million on the Roxham Road crossing since 2017, both directly and to reimburse costs incurred by the provincial government. — The contracts: The document tabled in Parliament, in answer to a question from Conservative public safety critic RAQUEL DANCHO , also lists 29 contracts the government has signed since January 2021 related to the unofficial border crossing, worth C$73 million. The majority of them are for guard services at various hotels, mainly in Montreal. But Ottawa also awarded a C$30-million contract to L’Agence Services Santé for “health and support services.” A C$15-million contract to Xpera Risk Mitigation and Investigation for “lodging and support services” was signed on Dec. 31, 2021. It was sole-sourced due to the “pressing emergency requirement as a result of a sudden influx of asylum seekers arriving in Quebec in November 2021,” the government reports. Another C$10-million contract was sole-sourced in September 2022 to the Dev Hotel & Conference Centre — formerly the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ont. — due to “a shortage of accommodation capacity in the Montreal Quebec area for asylum seekers.” | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro s, our latest policy newsletter from MAURA FORREST and NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY: Pandemic programs under the microscope.
In news for POLITICO Pro s: — U.S. not ready to back new Covid IP waiver. — Truck makers lobby against zero-emission regs. — Biden solar tariff plan faces backlash on multiple fronts. — Europe First: Brussels gets ready to dump its free trade ideals. — 'Taiwan is more important': Hawley urges weapons sales prioritize China over Russia. | | | | A message from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: Indigenous children belong in Indigenous communities, but The Government of the Northwest Territories is fighting us at the Supreme Court. By appealing Bill C-92, Premier Cochrane is seeking to block Inuvialuit efforts to improve the welfare of our children and youth.
Instead of standing with Indigenous Peoples, the Government of the Northwest Territories is defending the same policies that led to residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.
Meaningful reconciliation requires more than words. The Inuvialuit People are calling on the Government of the Northwest Territories to drop their intervention against Bill C-92 at the Supreme Court, and put Inuvialuit children back in Inuvialuit care.
Click here to learn more about our plan to support Inuvialuit children in their own communities. With your help, we can put an end to the centuries long policy of removing Indigenous children from their families, culture and communities. | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— The Quebec press council determined leaders’ debate moderator SHACHI KURL’s linking racism to Bill 21 and Bill 96 was not impartial in a question to Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET. La Presse’s HENRI OUELLETTE-VEZINA picked up on the decision .
— The Canadian Press reports on legislation tabled in Quebec that will end the requirement for elected members to swear an oath to KING CHARLES III. — Global News’ RACHEL GILMORE brings attention to police inaction related to a months-long campaign of death threats targeting her, Toronto Star reporter SABA EITIZAZ and Hill Times columnist ERICA IFILL. — Ex-Harper adviser BENJAMIN PERRIN is the latest guest on Liberal MP NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s Uncommons podcast to unspool his criticism of the Conservatives’ recent take on the drug overdose crisis. — DOUG EMHOFF has emerged as the face of the Biden administration’s fight against antisemitism , POLITICO’s EUGENE DANIELS and SAM STEIN report | | Playbookers | |
Spotted: New government legislation coming via Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE on the notice paper: “ An Act to amend the Investment in Canada Act .”
The NATO parliamentary assembly is in Washington, D.C. and so is a Canadian delegation with NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS, Bloc MP CHRISTINE NORMANDIN, Sen. DONNA DASKO, Liberal MP JULIE DZEROWICZ and Sen. PIERRE-HUGUES BOISVENU. Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE in Munich popping in at BMW . Sen. STAN KUTCHER celebrating son DAN KUTCHER’s investiture as the new mayor of Summerside , Prince Edward Island. Movers and shakers: The Ontario NDP March leadership vote is no more after the party acclaimed MARIT STILES, the lone candidate in the race, as its new leader … BRYAN COX has a new gig as PETRONAS Canada’s new director of external affairs and policy . The Canada Infrastructure Bank has two new board director appointments: ANDRÉE-LISE MÉTHOT and MICHAEL BERNSTEIN … Two new faces will join the board of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (Crown corp responsible for the Gordie Howe International Bridge): HELGA REIDEL and JEFF ALLSOP. Media mentions: STEFANIE MAROTTA starts Monday as the Globe’s new banking reporter . Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . | | On the Hill | |
→ Find upcoming House committees here
→ Keep track of Senate committees here — The Canadian Commercial Corporation holds its annual public general meeting. 4 p.m. The Senate national finance committee meets to study Bill C-32 , the government’s legislation to implement certain provisions of the Fall Economic Statement. 4:30 p.m. The House agriculture committee will hear from Agriculture Minister MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU about the supplementary estimates (B). 4:30 p.m. The House foreign affairs committee will meet in camera to consider two draft reports. In its second hour, it will hear from witnesses regarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women globally. 4:30 p.m. The House human resources committee will undertake clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-22 , the Canada Disability Benefit Act. 6:45 p.m. The Senate transport committee meets to take Bill C-11 , government legislation to modernize the Broadcasting Act, through clause-by-clause consideration. Behind closed doors: The Senate audit and oversight committee meets privately to discuss the Red Chamber’s internal and external audits; the Senate social affairs committee meets to study the federal framework for suicide prevention; and the Senate Indigenous peoples committee meets to review a draft report of its study examining Ottawa’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis. | | TRIVIA | |
Tuesday’s answer: The Canadian facility that one historian called a "cipher for grandiose fantasies about spymasters and secret agents" was Camp X. It opened on Dec. 6, 1941.
Props to DOUG RICE, GREG MACEACHERN, LAURA JARVIS, BOOTS TAYLOR-VAISEY, JOANNA PLATER, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, BRAM ABRAMSON, LAURA PAYTON (on behalf of the entire Communications Security Establishment comms team), and STEPHEN AZZI. Wednesday’s question: Name the building and room on the Hill where the following words are engraved onto a fireplace mantle: “But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage, Sue Allan and Mike Zapler. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
