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A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Maura Forrest |
Welcome to Ottawa Playbook. I’m your host, Maura Forrest. With the Senate adjourned, the holiday break has officially begun. A couple of parliamentarians are bidding the Hill adieu. And we bring you the latest on plans for the public service to return to the office (TL;DR they still don’t wanna).
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
RETURN TO OFFICE — The National Post’s CHRIS NARDI broke the story that KATHRYN MAY telegraphed last week: federal public servants will have to return to the office two or three days a week by the end of March 2023.
Battle stations, everyone. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Treasury Board President MONA FORTIER said the government is moving from “remote by necessity to hybrid by design.” Pressed about what data justify a forced return to the office, she was rather vague, pointing to a need for a “common approach” across workplaces. “In-person work better supports collaboration, team spirit, innovation and a culture of belonging,” she said. — Here’s an excerpt from the email that was sent to departments, which was oh-so-quickly posted to the public servants’ subreddit: “We have rediscovered many of the in-person experiences essential to cohesive, collaborative, and high-performing organizations. We have also seen the need for consistency in how hybrid work is applied so that it reflects the common values and shared commitment to serving Canadians that define and unite us. … There needs to be fairness and equity across workplaces.” — Pushback: Public servants have not been quiet about their opposition to any forced return to the office, and on Thursday, their unions were livid. “We demand the Treasury Board halt its plans to mandate employees back to the office. The plan is poorly thought out, punitive and makes no sense whatsoever - & we won't compromise on health and safety,” the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada tweeted. “This flies in the face of workers' rights and their proven record serving communities remotely — for YEARS,” said the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “Our position on remote work for federal public service workers remains the same: it's an issue for the bargaining table.” — Fortier’s response? The location of work “is the right of the employer.” Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Click here to sign up for your own edition. It’s free! | | For your radar | |
THAT’S A WRAP — The Senate adjourned for the holiday break Thursday evening after a flurry of activity that saw six new bills gain Royal Assent.
Among others, the Red Chamber passed Bill C-32, which implements parts of the fall economic statement. Bill S-11, which would harmonize federal laws with the civil law of Quebec, passed the Senate and now goes to the House of Commons. Senators also gave a nod to the late JIM CARR’s private member’s bill, which requires the government to develop a framework to build a green economy in the Prairie provinces. Two senators’ public bills have also received Royal Assent: Sen. MARY JANE MCCALLUM’s Bill S-219, which designates the fourth day of January as National Ribbon Skirt Day, and Sen. SALMA ATAULLAHJAN’s anti-organ trafficking bill. Bill S-4, which expands the options for remote appearances in the court system in the wake of Covid-19, has also become law. — What’s next? The Senate will sit again on Jan. 31. COMING UP — After weeks of public pressure, the Liberals announced Thursday they want to push back a deadline for expanding medical assistance in dying to people suffering from mental illness. They didn’t say until when. Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI told reporters that experts are concerned the health-care system isn’t prepared to deal with cases where the sole medical condition is a mental disorder. “Some provinces, territories and those working in the health-care system say that more time is needed,” he explained during a late afternoon press conference.
— Quick background: When Canada passed its most recent MAiD law in March 2021, people suffering only from mental illness were excluded — but only until March 17, 2023. The Liberals will have to pass a legislative amendment to extend that deadline.
The move is an about-face for a government that had been committed to the March timeline until recently. — Who wanted to step on the brakes? There’s a growing list. The Conservatives have long said they want a pause on the MAiD expansion. But Bloc MP LUC THÉRIAULT also told the National Post’s CATHERINE LÉVESQUE the March deadline was “too early” — a notable voice, given that Quebec has led the way on medical assistance in dying. NDP MPs also want to see better supports in place to ensure people aren’t seeking MAiD because they feel they have no other options. And earlier this month, a group representing leading psychiatrists also issued a statement calling for a delay. It said doctors need more training, and that there are unresolved questions about when a mental illness should be deemed irremediable. — Setting a precedent: If Canada moves ahead with the expansion, its MAiD framework would become “one of the broadest in the world,” ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY reported this week for Reuters. Canada would be one of just six countries in the world to allow medical assistance in dying for those suffering from mental illness alone. — In related reading: For the Conversation, University of Toronto psychiatry professor KARANDEEP SONU GAIND writes that “it’s still a policy built on quicksand.” STEPPING DOWN — DAVE MACKENZIE is retiring as the MP for Oxford after 18 years in the House of Commons. The Conservative MP served as parliamentary secretary to the public safety minister and as deputy government whip under former prime minister STEPHEN HARPER. In a statement, he said he looks forward to spending more time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during his retirement, effective Jan. 28. — Meanwhile, in the other place: Independent Sen. DAN CHRISTMAS announced his retirement in the Red Chamber on Thursday. Christmas, who hails from the Mi’kmaw First Nation of Membertou in Nova Scotia, was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU in 2016. Colleagues, including opposition leader Sen. DON PLETT, paid tribute to Christmas on Thursday. | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will meet with Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT in Montreal at 11 a.m.
— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND’s itinerary lists private meetings. 8:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. AST) Families Minister KARINA GOULD will be in P.E.I. to announce a child care fee reduction in the province. 2 p.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will meet with the chiefs of Nutashkuan and Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nations in Montreal. 3:30 p.m. Emergency Preparedness Minister BILL BLAIR will hold a press conference following a meeting of federal-provincial-territorial emergency management ministers in Ottawa. | | PAPER TRAIL | |
KEEPING TRACK — Canada has lifted 137 long-term drinking water advisories on reserves since November 2015. That’s equal to 82 percent of long-term advisories in the last seven years, the government claims.
Still, the Liberals fell short of their promise to lift all drinking water advisories by March 2021. There are currently 31 long-term advisories still in place in 27 communities. And a document tabled this week in the House of Commons shows the work doesn’t end once an advisory is lifted. According to the document, tabled in answer to a question from Conservative MP GARY VIDAL, four First Nations have seen long-term drinking water advisories recur on five water systems that previously had advisories lifted. — A closer look: Ontario’s North Spirit Lake First Nation, for example, lifted a boil-water advisory in 2019 that had been in place since 2001, only to have it reissued just over a month later. It remains in effect. Elsewhere in Ontario, Sachigo Lake First Nation just had a long-term advisory lifted for the second time in October. In total, the government has issued 68 long-term drinking water advisories since November 2015. — Also worth noting: The document shows that 36 short-term drinking water advisories have been issued in 22 First Nations that previously had long-term advisories. Five of these remained in effect as of October 2022. A short-term advisory automatically becomes long-term after one year. “Advisories are put in place for various reasons such as water line breaks, equipment failure, or poor filtration/disinfection during water treatment,” the document reads. “Communities may also choose to issue a drinking water advisory as a precautionary measure, such as when there are repairs underway to the water system.” | | WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN | |
Who’s up: Conservative public safety critic RAQUEL DANCHO, whose profile is growing thanks to the uproar over the Liberals’ controversial firearms bill.
Who’s down: International Trade Minister MARY NG, who was dinged by the ethics commissioner for breaching conflict of interest rules over a pair of media training contracts awarded to her friend AMANDA ALVARO. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— Top of POLITICO: Senate clears one-week funding patch, averting government shutdown.
— ALEX PANETTA looks at who is really targeting forced labor. The score so far: 2,398 for the U.S., 1 for Canada. — “Every space we can possibly find has a sick child,” DEVIN PETERSON, director of pediatric surgery at McMaster Children's Hospital, tells TVO.org. — A new report from the Yellowhead Institute says Canada is currently on track to meet Truth and Reconciliation calls by 2065. — POLITICO’s SARAH WHEATON explains why the Qatar scandal was inevitable. — The Atlantic's CHARLIE WARZEL was on CBC’s Front Burner pod with a download on ELON MUSK’s culture war. — Sen. PAULA SIMONS joined RYAN JESPERSEN in conversation on Real Talk where she explained why she’s leaving Twitter. She also has a response to Toronto Life’s take on Edmonton. — And CP’s MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH dives into the questions that greeted Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU’s invitation to ask him anything on Twitter, including this gem: “Why are you?” | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro s, here’s our latest policy newsletter from ZI-ANN LUM: MIA at inaugural Indo-Pacific talks: Canada.
In other news for Pro readers: — Chinese chip, AI producers hit with export controls. — EPA sued over delayed air toxics rule. — New York regulators issue crypto guidance for banks. — 338Canada: Survey on religion reveals a nation of no-gos. — White House to restart free Covid home test program. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD today to International Trade Minister MARY NG, Liberal MP JUDY SGRO, former Liberal MP KENT HEHR and Sen. STAN KUTCHER.
Celebrating Saturday: Pollster ANGUS REID. Also, BOOTS VAISEY. Celebrating Sunday: Conservative MP RANDY HOBACK and former MP SYLVIE BOUCHER. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: Winterlude, returning to the capital region in February 2023 following a two-year hiatus from in-person activities. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief ALLAN ADAM, playing JOHNNY CASH with NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS. Niipaawi Strategies’ CAM HOLMSTROM, sharing thoughts on possible changes to the parliamentary precinct. DAVID AKIN’s Roundup newsletter, shutting down in January … Alberta Environment Minister SONYA SAVAGE at COP15 in Montreal with Canada’s Climate Change Ambassador CATHERINE STEWART. Movers and shakers: DANIELE MEDLEJ, dcomm for Housing Minister AHMED HUSSEN, is joining Navigator as a senior consultant in January. Farewells: ADAM EXTON, director of parliamentary affairs at Health Canada, has died at age 35. From his obituary: “As a young person, Adam became actively involved in politics and had a passion for public service and volunteering in the community. In 2012, Adam won the Ontario Young Liberal Volunteer of the Year Award. “He was a talented and respected campaign manager that was instrumental in helping to bring cabinet ministers and members to Queens Park and Ottawa.” Journalist PATRICK MICHAEL DOYLE has died. “Some of my biggest laughs while on the job on the Hill in the 1990s came as a result of his booming voice and irreverence,” SUSAN DELACOURT tweeted as she shared the news. “I have fond memories of Patrick's sense of humour. Referring to his tape recorder as a ‘lie detector’ stands out,” JOAN BRYDEN said on Twitter. | | On the Hill | |
— Find the latest House committee meetings here.
— Keep track of Senate committees here. | | TRIVIA | |
Thursday’s answer: On Dec. 15, 1964, closure ended the Great Flag Debate.
Props to DAN ALBAS, GREG FERGUS, CHRISTOPHER LAWTON, BRANDON RABIDEAU, ANDREW SZENDE, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, KEVIN BOSCH, KATE DALGLEISH, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, NANCI WAUGH, DOUG RICE, ROB TAYLOR, AMY BOUGHNER, BRENDAN HALEY, DOUG SWEET, JOHN ECKER, BRAM ABRAMSON, PATRICK DION, JOANNA PLATER, JOE MACDONALD, STEPHEN HARRIS, SAM MACPHAIL, TOM CORMIER, GREGORY THOMAS, MURRAY WILSON, ROBERT TOWNER and BOB GORDON. We missed these quiz masters on Thursday: GUY SKIPWORTH, GREG MACEACHERN, FRANCIE FORD and JENN KEAY. Friday question: Sen. DAN CHRISTMAS, who announced his retirement Thursday, was the first Mi'kmaq senator. Who is the second? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage and Sue Allan. 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 | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
