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A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Maura Forrest and Zi-Ann Lum | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Nick | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host Nick Taylor-Vaisey, with Maura Forrest and Zi-Ann Lum. Today, we connect the dots on who's going where in Ottawa ministers' offices. Plus, the PM meets the premiers on health-care funding. Also, the government spent how much on TikTok ads?
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | MINO-SHUFFLE — Staffers never want to be the story. They're not elected, they'll say. Their bosses are the accountable ones — either elected by people or tapped by the prime minister or appointed by Cabinet. In a minister's office, the boss wears the wins and losses. Staffers serve at their pleasure and, when chaos walks through the door, they just hope not to screw up. But the top staffers in a few key ministers' offices — MINOs, in the jargon — are part of the story this week. And for a good reason. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU didn't shuffle his Cabinet ministers to start the year, but a handful of their chiefs of staff appear to be moving around — and possibly out. Rumors are running rampant. Official confirmations are hard to pin down. — What we know: The PMO isn't yet confirming who is going where. MINOs are using careful wording. We can confirm one move. SAMANTHA KHALIL, the director of issues management at the PMO — aka a trusted crisis firefighter — is replacing MIKE JONES as chief to Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO. We also heard TARAS ZALUSKY is leaving Employment Minister CARLA QUALTROUGH's office to take over the reins for ANITA ANAND at defense. The Hill Times' ABBAS RANA tweeted that news. MIKE MAKA's name is also in the (rumored) mix. Maka currently works for Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA. Whispering sources claim he may be on the move. They also say OLGA RADCHENKO could be on the way out as chief to Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER. None of those offices confirmed any staff changes. — Official responses: Here's the word so far. Fraser's office: "No changes to share from our office. Will keep you posted." Alghabra's office: "I will keep you posted of any changes in due time." Anand's office: "No info to share on this." Qualtrough's office: No response. — We'll find out eventually: It's not like chiefs maintain secret identities. Their names are published in the notoriously out-of-date Government Electronic Directory Services. Eventually. However it all shakes out, we'll search GEDS for conclusive answers. In six months. If we're lucky. — Why this matters: Sure, it's inside baseball. But chiefs of staff aren't bit players in our democracy. They're picked by both the PMO and their minister. It's called a "two-key" hire, It's not always an easy process, as BILL MORNEAU wrote in his recent memoir. Sometimes the PMO has a strong preference. Still, why all the fuss? The tl;dr: Chiefs are the ultimate gatekeepers of their boss's time. Countless people claim to urgently need the minister's eyes or ears on any given day. It's untenable. Enter the chief, a ruthless time guardian. They also staff up their teams, a serious slog after seven-plus years in power and a pandemic. Just ask any staffer who's on their eighth burnout in three years how important a good chief is to a properly functioning MINO.
| | For your radar | | HOW MUCH? — That’s the question on everyone’s mind this morning as Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU prepares to put an offer on the table for more health care funding at today’s meeting with first ministers in Ottawa. We’ll have an answer to that question later today, but for now, all we know is it will be “substantial,” per a source. Will it be enough to mollify the premiers, who’ve been pushing for a C$28-billion increase to the Canada Health Transfer (which they seem unlikely to get)? That remains to be seen, though the source said there’s “clearly goodwill from many [provinces and territories] going into this.” — Otherwise: The outlines of the offer seem clear enough, thanks to details that have leaked out over the last several weeks. It’s expected Trudeau will offer a 10-year funding deal to the premiers, which will include an increase to the Canada Health Transfer and more funding for bilateral deals to respond to individual provinces’ specific health care needs. The PM is expected to make better sharing of health data a condition of the new influx of federal cash. — For more: The multibillion-dollar offer will include “major new spending” for mental health, the Toronto Star’s TONDA MACCHARLES and ROBERT BENZIE report. Ottawa wants a commitment from the provinces that none of the new money will be diverted to other programs, according to the Globe and Mail’s ROBERT FIFE and MARIEKE WALSH. And the money will flow as soon as the spring budget, report the CBC’s DAVID COCHRANE, PETER ZIMONJIC and RICHARD RAYCRAFT. FUNDING DEMANDS — A pair of pre-budget letters sent to Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND crossed Playbook's desk Monday. — The Parliamentary Black Caucus held consultations with dozens of Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving organizations in December and January. Among the PBC's priorities: more long-term funding opportunities for Black organizations; new grant opportunities related to the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent; a new Black equity commissioner for the public service; disaggregated Statistics Canada data that helps organizations better understand the challenges in their sectors; and a focus on youth, women, Francophones and LGBTQ communities. — 40 senators urged the minister to fund a pan-Canadian school food policy on the heels of consultations launched last November. In 2021, the Liberals promised C$1 billion over five years for a national school nutrition program. Budget 2022 tasked Families Minister KARINA GOULD with crafting a food policy with fed-prov partners — but committed no money to it.
| | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | — Governor General MARY SIMON is in Helsinki for a state visit. She'll meet with Finnish President SAULI NIINISTÖ, Helsinki Mayor JUHANA VARTIAINEN, first deputy speaker of Parliament ANTTI RINNE, and Finnish PM SANNA MARIN. Simon will cap the day with a state dinner at the presidential palace. 9 a.m. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will meet with the premiers in Ottawa to discuss a new funding deal for health care. 9 a.m. The Senate Committee on National Finance will hear from Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX. 9 a.m. The Canadian Labour Congress launches its annual lobby day with a press conference. President BEA BRUSKE and executive VP LARRY ROUSSEAU will speak to reporters. Health care, affordability and workers' rights are on the agenda. 10:30 a.m. NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS will join Grand Chief ALISON LINKLATER of Mushkegowuk Tribal Council and Chief GAIUS WESLEY of Wesley Kashechewan First Nation to demand First Nations have a voice at health-care talks. 11 a.m. NDP leader JAGMEET SINGH will speak to reporters about "health-care solutions." 12:15 p.m. Singh speaks at a rally for public health care. 12:35 p.m. Trudeau will meet Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH. 12:45 p.m. Bank of Canada governor TIFF MACKLEM gives a speech to CFA Quebec on how monetary policy works. 1 p.m. Trudeauwill chair a working meeting on health care. He'll be joined by federal Cabinet ministers CHRYSTIA FREELAND, DOMINIC LEBLANC, JEAN-YVES DUCLOS and CAROLYN BENNETT. 3:30 p.m. The House ethics committee will dig into the ethics commissioner's Ng Report. Witnesses include international trade DM ROB STEWART and DANIEL PILON, director general for national accommodations, domestic procurement and asset management. 3:45 p.m. Singh meets the Canadian Labour Congress. 5:30 p.m. Trudeau will hold a media availability. He'll be joined by Freeland, LeBlanc, Duclos, Bennett, KAMAL KHERA and PATTY HAJDU.
| | ASK US ANYTHING | | TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW — We welcome your tips and intel. What are you hearing that you need Playbook readers to know? Send details.
| | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | SNUB OR NO SNUB — Canadians love to count the number of northern neighbor name-checks in the U.S. president's annual State of the Union address. JOE BIDEN is primed to deliver his second SOTU this evening, flanked by Veep KAMALA HARRIS and House Speaker KEVIN MCCARTHY. Playbook asked one veteran Canada-U.S. watcher what she'll be listening for when Biden soft-launches a possible re-election bid — beyond a passing shoutout. LOUISE BLAIS, special senior adviser on international affairs at the Business Council of Canada: What Canadians might want to watch this evening is whether the president refers to close allies to help secure critical supply chains. After two years of protectionist impulses, will POTUS reaffirm for his domestic audience his new collaborative economic vision shared at the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico — and in his statement on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity? And if he does, will he put his continental partners in a premier grouping or cast things more broadly to include Europe? These signals are not everything, and we cannot read too much into an omission. However, a mention of North America would be a good sign.
| | PAPER TRAIL | | PAY FOR PLAYS — The annual report on government advertising dropped last week, offering a semi-detailed accounting of the millions in taxpayer dollars doled out to traditional news outlets and ubiquitous digital platforms. We dug through the tables and graphs. — The big number: C$140.8 million spent on ads in 2021–22, mostly via Cossette Media — the federal government's "agency of record" when it comes to planning and buying ad time. — C$62 million: Total Covid-related ad spending that year — Digital giants: Total spending on social media in 2021–22 added up to C$21.2 million: C$11.4 million on Facebook and Instagram, C$3.6 million on Twitter, C$2.2 million on Snapchat, C$1.7 million on TikTok, C$1.6 million on LinkedIn and a whopping C$664,000 on Pinterest. The feds poured another C$25.5 million into ads categorized as "display programmatic," a category that includes YouTube. The report doesn't offer a YouTube-specific breakdown. (Playbook asked Public Services and Procurement Canada for that number. They didn't respond in time, but we'll keep readers in the loop.) The feds found C$8.7 million for Google search ads, and C$1.1 million for Bing. — TV, radio and print: Ottawa spent C$32 million on television ads, C$11.7 million on radio and C$6.5 million on print.
| | MEDIA ROOM | | — An Ipsos Reid poll for Global News challenges the narrative on healthcare funding: "59 per cent of the 1,001 adults surveyed expressed support for the private delivery of publicly funded health services." — The Angus Reid Institute was also recently in the field: "The concept of increasing private delivery of procedures as long as it is paid for by public funds is popular with past Conservative and [Bloc Québécois] voters, as well as half of Trudeau’s own supporters." — The Conservatives are asking auditor general KAREN HOGAN to take a closer look at the government's contracts with McKinsey. — Question from MATT GURNEY at TVO: Are the votes of blue-collar workers and union members up for grabs in Ontario? — Via APTN: Alberta lawyers association votes to keep mandatory Indigenous training — From MOIRA WYTON at The Tyee: Dr. SANJIV GANDHI saved children’s lives in the operating room. Now he is a deputy leader of the B.C. Greens.
| | PROZONE | | For POLITICO Pro s, our latest policy newsletter from SUE ALLAN and MAURA FORREST: Canada’s Arctic gap: ‘Long-standing, known issues’ In news for POLITICO Pro s:
— Alberta unions appeal for 'definitive response' to the IRA.
— Russia’s oil revenues plunge as EU’s oil war enters round 2.
— Biden’s top Covid adviser wishes he had tangled with Tucker Carlson.
— Pot is making people sick. Congress is playing catch-up.
— FAA proposes $1M fine against United Airlines over checklist omission.
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | Birthdays: HBD to SCAACHI KOUL. HBD + 2 to U.S. Energy secretary JENNIFER GRANHOLM and Mississauga Mayor BONNIE CROMBIE. Movers and shakers: GREG MACEACHERN is no longer leading Proof Strategies' government relations team in Ottawa. MacEachern posted his final meeting in the lobbyist registry after 12 years with the firm. The client was Netflix. The office holder was JUDE WELCH, chief of staff to Heritage Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ. A Silicon Valley manufacturer of "smart window technology" wants Ottawa to include AI-powered windows in its planned investment tax credit for clean technologies. View Inc says its tinting technology can minimize heat and glare. Strategies360 president MICHAEL GARDINER is on the case. Doornekamp Construction has tapped Rubicon Strategies to hype expansion projects at the Picton Terminals deep-water port in Ontario's Prince Edward County. Doornekamp owns the port, and hopes to "gain export/import verification" from the Canada Border Services Agency. The county has previously opposed expansion efforts. Drama! Spotted: Kitchener-Conestoga MP TIM LOUIS, reporting that police have laid charges against an individual who made death threats against him … Tory MP MELISSA LANTSMAN, earning snaps for her bright blue blazer. The PMO's acting deputy director of human resources and legal advisor, ALBERT NOLETTE, scoring a free ticket to an Edmonton Oilers game. Because this is Ottawa, Nolette had to report it to the ethics commissioner. JORDAN AMES-SINCLAIR, a staffer in Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS' office, declaring a door prize won "in a personal capacity" at a celebration of the United Arab Emirates. The prize: two tickets aboard Emirates Airlines. TOM CLARK, getting the Poli-Lego treatment … COREY HOGAN, advising the Liberals to avoid the "Canada feels broken" narrative. Media mentions: CBC anchor HARRY FORESTELL is back in the chair in New Brunswick after a four-month medical leave … TERRY DIMONTE is recovering from complications that emerged after heart surgery … SAMMY HUDES joins the Canadian Press. CPAC announced a new host of its Today in Politics pod: Hill vet JULIE VAN DUSEN, hounder of politicians for more than three decades.
| | On the Hill | | → Find the latest on House committee meetings here. → Keep track of Senate committee meetings here. 8:30 a.m. Statistics Canada will release Canadian international merchandise trade figures for December 2022; it will also release stocks of principal field crops figures for Dec. 31, 2022. 9 a.m. Sen. GLEN PATTERSON will be at the Senate transport committee on Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act. 9:30 a.m. The Senate rules and procedure committee will meet to talk future business. 11 a.m. The House committee on science and research is studying citizen scientists and will hear from LAURA REINSBOROUGH (Ottawa Riverkeeper), CHARLES ENNIS (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada), GEOFFREY S. LEBARON (National Audubon Society) and others. 11 a.m. The House transport committee will hear from a trio from Canadian National Railway Company. 11 a.m. The House health committee is studying children’s health. 12 p.m. Former ambassador to China DAVID MULRONEY is among the witnesses at a one-hour meeting of the House committee on procedure on foreign interference. 3:30 p.m. The House ethics committee will dig into the ethics commissioner's Ng Report. Witnesses include international trade DM ROB STEWART and DANIEL PILON, director general for national accommodations, domestic procurement and asset management. 3:30 p.m. The House committee on official languages will undertake clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-13 with department officials in the house. 3:30 p.m. The House national defense committee will hear from the Communications Security Establishment and the Centre for International Governance Innovation as it studies cybersecurity and cyberwarfare. 3:30 p.m. The House human resources committee is in camera for its first hour; at 4:30 p.m., Employment Minister CARLA QUALTROUGH will appear. When the Senate rises but not before 6:30 p.m.: — The Senate energy committee will meet to discuss hydrogen energy. — The Senate fisheries and oceans committee will hear from the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters' Federation and the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters' Federation. Behind closed doors: The House finance committee will be discussing its report on the 2023 budget; the House natural resources committee will be in camera to discuss its report on “Creating a Fair and Equitable Canadian Energy Transformation.” The House foreign affairs committee considers a draft report on the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border. The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying will meet to discuss its draft report.
| | TRIVIA | | Monday’s answer: BERNADETTE CLEMENT made history in 2018, the first woman to be elected as Mayor of Cornwall and the first Black woman to serve as a mayor in Ontario. She was appointed to the Senate in June 2021. Props to EMMA MELDRUM (parliamentary affairs adviser to Sen. Clement), AMEYA CHARNALIA, GEORGE YOUNG, GANGA WIGNARAJAH, PATRICK DION, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and ANDRÉ BRISEBOIS. Today’s question: Name the first woman to run for leadership of a federal political party in Canada. 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, Sue Allan and David Cohen. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
