On the road again

From: POLITICO Ottawa Playbook - Monday Apr 03,2023 10:01 am

Apr 03, 2023

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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I’m your host, Maura Forrest, with Nick Taylor-Vaisey. This week, two parallel budget tours hit the road, the Emergencies Act is under scrutiny (again), and we hear there’s some news about DONALD TRUMP. And this morning, we’ll find out which Canadian astronaut gets to fly to the moon.

THREE THINGS WE'RE WATCHING

Justin Trudeau arrives at 10 Downing Street.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Quebec as part of his budget tour today. | Hollie Adams/Getty Images

BUDGET TOUR — The House of Commons isn’t sitting again until April 17, giving the Liberals (and NDP) plenty of time to criss-cross the country and sell last week’s federal budget to Canadians (or take credit for what’s in it).

Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Quebec’s Abitibi region today, visiting two ridings currently held by the Bloc Québécois. He’ll visit a grocery store and hold a town hall with employees of a lithium mine.

Trudeau was in Montreal over the weekend, and made a Sunday evening appearance on Tout le monde en parle — the must-watch Quebec talk show — where his most notable lines weren’t about the budget at all.

— Election talk: It’s been pretty clear for a while now that Trudeau isn’t planning an exit anytime soon. But for the record, he told host GUY A. LEPAGE in no uncertain terms that he’ll be leading the Liberals into the next election.

— Migrant deaths: He was also asked about the deaths last week of two migrant families attempting to enter the United States from Canada across the St. Lawrence River in Akwesasne Mohawk territory. Trudeau claimed the tragedy is proof that Canada needs “controlled, regular migration,” which he said is why his government reached an agreement with the U.S. to extend the Safe Third Country Agreement to the entire border.

That’s an argument unlikely to sit well with refugee advocates, who say the expanded agreement — which allowed the government to close the unofficial border checkpoint at Roxham Road in Quebec — will drive migrants to attempt more dangerous crossings.

— Also worth noting: The PM has launched a new YouTube channel just in time for the budget tour. He already has an official channel, featuring all his official speeches and press conference clips. But this new one offers a more, shall we say, personal touch.

For example, here he is, sitting on his desk, explaining the so-called “grocery rebate” (7,600 views). Here he is, with a whiteboard, explaining how budgets get made (for some reason, lobbyists don’t get a mention here). Here he is, in a hard hat, explaining the electric vehicle supply chain (155 views).

(Just as a point of comparison, Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE’s Friday video urging people to fill up their tanks ahead of the annual carbon tax increase has roughly 210,000 views — but who’s counting?)

— Meanwhile: Trudeau’s ministers will pop up today at grocery stores, union locals, universities and Royal Canadian Legion branches from Calgary to Newfoundland, where they’ll no doubt highlight the budget’s affordability measures and tax credits for the low-carbon economy.

NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is also on the road as part of his own post-budget victory tour. He’ll spend the day in St. John’s, Nfld., where he’ll claim the government’s C$13-billion dental care plan as a major NDP win.

— For more on that: Here’s the CBC’s AARON WHERRY on how dental care is “happening now because the Liberals and New Democrats were willing to sign a supply-and-confidence agreement and the NDP needed something to show for it.”

ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING — The Federal Court will begin hearings this morning on the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act during the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protests in February 2022.

You’ll no doubt recall that Justice PAUL ROULEAU, who spearheaded the public inquiry into the use of emergency powers, concluded in February that Trudeau was justified in invoking the act to end the occupation in Ottawa and protests elsewhere in the country.

But civil liberties organizations and groups involved with the protests are taking the government to court in a separate bid to prove the Liberals didn’t meet the legal threshold required to invoke the act. The hearings will take place in Ottawa today until Wednesday.

— What’s at stake: It’s possible the court could reach a different conclusion from Rouleau, who himself found that “reasonable and informed” people could look at the same situation and decide the use of emergency powers was unwarranted.

"The question of whether the legal threshold for invoking the Emergencies Act was met is important not just for evaluating a historical event, but for how it might guide governments in the future,” CARA ZWIBEL, a lawyer with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said in a statement Friday. “Ultimately, it is a question that can only be answered by the courts.”

Sohaib Gulzar, 23, drove to Trump Tower ahead of the former presidents arrest.

A lone MAGA protester was parked outside Trump Tower on Saturday. | Wesley Parnell for POLITICO

THE INDICTMENT — We know, we know, this is a Canadian politics newsletter. But it will be difficult to ignore former U.S. President DONALD TRUMP’s expected appearance in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, following his indictment related to alleged hush money payments to porn star STORMY DANIELS.

Here are some of the latest POLITICO offerings on the unprecedented story:

ERICA ORDEN has this profile of the legal duo representing the former president.
WESLEY PARNELL has the scene from Trump Tower over the weekend, where a single MAGA protester was parked on Madison Avenue.
JOSH GERSTEIN and KYLE CHENEY take a look at how Trump could drag out the proceedings and “push the trial deep into the 2024 presidential campaign.”
From MERIDITH MCGRAW: “The indictment of Donald Trump has rekindled, for now, a long-standing relationship that had gone decidedly sour: the one the former president previously enjoyed with Fox News.”

From BURGESS EVERETT: “Former President Donald Trump’s conservative defenders in Congress were not exactly front and center on Sunday, as rank-and-file Republicans tap-danced around his looming arraignment.”

And from contributor ANKUSH KHARDORI: “Trump seems to be the victim of a witch hunt. So what?”

Know someone who could use Ottawa Playbook? Direct them to this link. Five days a week, zero dollars.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

— Prince Edward Islanders go to the polls today.

— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Quebec’s Abitibi region.

— Seniors Minister KAMAL KHERA will attend the United Nations Open Ended Working Group on Ageing, taking place in New York City today until Thursday, where she will deliver Canada’s national statement.

7 a.m. The Assembly of First Nations’ Special Chiefs Assembly begins in Ottawa’s Shaw Centre with a pipe ceremony.

9:30 a.m. (11 a.m. NDT) NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in St. John’s, Nfld. for a roundtable with seniors on dental care. He’ll speak with reporters at 10:45 a.m. (12:15 NDT).

9:30 a.m. The Federal Court will begin hearings in a judicial review of the invocation of the Emergencies Act during the “Freedom Convoy” protests.

10:30 a.m. The Bank of Canada releases its first quarter issue of the Business Outlook Survey and the latest Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations.

11 a.m. (10 a.m. CDT) Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Houston, Texas, with Canadian Space Agency President LISA CAMPBELL to reveal the names of astronauts for the Artemis II Moon mission, including one Canadian.

11:25 a.m. Trudeau will visit a grocery store in Val-d’Or, Que., before speaking to reporters at 11:45 a.m.

12 p.m. (11 a.m. CDT) NDP MPs JENNY KWAN and LEAH GAZAN will hold a press conference in Emerson, Man., to condemn the government’s expansion of the Safe Third Country Agreement.

3:45 p.m. Trudeau will hold a town hall with employees of the Sayona lithium project in La Corne, Que.

5:30 p.m. (7 p.m. NDT) Singh will host a meet and greet in St. John’s, Nfld.

For your radar

JOB OPENINGS — ERIN O’TOOLE is out. A little over a year after being ousted from the Conservative leadership, O’Toole announced in a statement Friday he’ll be resigning his Durham seat at the end of the spring session.

Here’s Global’s ALEX BOUTILIER with a look back at O’Toole’s decade in federal politics, his successful leadership bid and unsuccessful election campaign, and the party infighting that cast him out.

— The full tally: O’Toole’s exit will soon bring to six the number of federal ridings in need of a byelection, including three others vacated by Conservatives: Portage—Lisgar (CANDICE BERGEN), Calgary Heritage (BOB BENZEN) and Oxford (DAVE MACKENZIE). Two Liberal seats — Winnipeg South Centre (JIM CARR) and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount (MARC GARNEAU) — round out the list. Those five byelections will all need to be announced by the end of summer.

But in all six ridings, there’s a good chance the real drama will have played out long before voters actually head to the polls. Poll aggregator 338Canada rates all six as safe holds for the incumbent party, meaning the nomination races are likely where it’s at.

Hence all the fireworks in Oxford, where Conservative party organizer ARPAN KHANNA recently won the party’s nomination despite accusations of being a parachute candidate.

And at least five Conservatives are vying for the party’s nomination in Bergen’s former Manitoba seat, including former provincial minister CAMERON FRIESEN and former MP LAWRENCE TOET.

PAPER TRAIL

HOW THEY REALLY FEEL — Playbook got its hands on the results of a Canada Revenue Agency employee survey. The agency wanted to gauge the vibe among employees who returned to the office to do their day jobs (i.e. not to just pick up mail).

A big caveat: The November survey predated a broad-based return-to-office hybrid regime that kicked in for thousands of workers in January.

— The topline numbers: More than 6,400 CRA-ers who had already returned to the office in some capacity took the survey. Fifty-six percent said they still mostly worked from home. Another 27 percent split their time between home and office. The hardcore office workers comprised 17 percent. One in four commuted to an office once a month or less.

Almost every single survey respondent — 97 percent — "accomplished what they expected to accomplish" in the office. One in four returned at their boss's request. A mere 16 percent claimed to "prefer to work in the office."

— Snitch watch: Twenty-eight percent of respondents "observed other employees at their CRA office not following safety protocols." (The bold and underline is the agency's formatting.)

— Half and half: In November, 56 percent of surveyed employees "indicated they were happy to work at a CRA office." That's a majority! But remember, the survey excluded employees who were still fully work-from-home.

— The official word: A spokesperson said the agency "intends to maintain key flexibilities in its application of its Directive on Virtual Work Arrangements. The CRA has continuously engaged and consulted on how we will navigate our journey to a hybrid work environment, and will continue to do so."

Are you a CRA employee? Are you happy with your return to the office? Can you simply not wait to arrive for a hard day's work? Or are you a homebody? Tell us!

MEDIA ROOM

— Interim RCMP commissioner MICHAEL DUHEME told CTV’s VASSY KAPELOS that the national police force should be able to use CSIS intelligence as evidence in criminal investigations.

— The federal government is “staring down one of the biggest strikes in Canadian history” as public servants push for higher wages, Bloomberg’s RANDY THANTHONG-KNIGHT reports.

— The next federal ethics watchdog will be paid C$110,000 less than the previous commissioners, the National Post’s CHRISTOPHER NARDI learned.

— MARK SUTCLIFFE and CATHERINE MCKENNEY raised similar amounts during the Ottawa mayoral election campaign, but in very different ways, the CBC’s JOANNE CHIANELLO reports. Sutcliffe, who won the race, raised C$300,000 from just 250 people who donated the maximum amount. Among the names? DALTON MCGUINTY, MICHELLE COATES-MATHER, KORY TENECKYE and CHRIS FROGGATT. Former mayor JIM WATSON also gave C$500.

— Ontario’s chief electoral officer wants a ban on publishing the results of political polls for the last two weeks before an election, the CBC’s MIKE CRAWLEY reports. Poll guru ÉRIC GRENIER has thoughts.

— And the CBC’s JOHN PAUL TASKER writes that the cost to run the federal government is up C$151 billion since Trudeau took office.

PROZONE

For POLITICO Pro s, our latest policy newsletter from ZI-ANN LUM and JOSEPH GEDEON: Exit interview with the Business Council's John Dillon.

In other news for Pro s:

— Lost in translation: Washington and Brussels face pushback on effort to patch trade rift.

— IRS rules for electric cars unveiled after months of attacks.

— Environmentalists alarmed by push to ‘undermine’ New York’s climate law.

— How the climate movement learned to win in Washington.

— Biden-backed California rule pushes clean trucks.

PLAYBOOKERS

Birthdays: HBD to former senator DANIEL LANG.

Spotted: HAN DONG, serving Global News and SAM COOPER with a libel notice for a story alleging he advised a Chinese diplomat to delay the release of the two Michaels.

TASHA KHEIRIDDIN, accusing PIERRE POILIEVRE of “revisionist history” for claiming the Wright brothers were simple, common men.

The WESTERN STANDARD, going all in on April Fools’ Day … JORDAN PETERSON, apparently falling for it.

Elsewhere, with attempts at April Fools’ Day humor: BOB RAE and the BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS.

Another UCP candidate, TUNDE OBASAN, bowing out … Meanwhile, RAJAN SAWHNEY, a provincial minister who had said she wouldn’t run again, is now the UCP candidate in the riding held by Environment Minister SONYA SAVAGE, who has also announced she won’t seek re-election.

NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS, accusing former B.C. NDP premier JOHN HORGAN of “cashing in as the planet burns” for joining the board of a coal company.

PIERRE POILIEVRE, making a Very Funny Joke.

Movers and shakers: SABRINA KIM starts today as director of issues management for Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON. Kim was most recently d-comm and head of issues management for Defense Minister ANITA ANAND — and also served stints in the Prime Minister's Office and for two environment ministers.

Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way.

On the Hill

— Find the latest House committee meetings here.

— Keep track of Senate committees here.

TRIVIA

Friday’s answer: Former Ottawa mayor CHARLOTTE WHITTON was the first woman mayor of a major Canadian city. She served from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1964.

Props to SUSAN KEYS, BILL PRISTANSKI, GERMAINE MALABRE, ALYSON FAIR, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, DAN MCCARTHY, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, LAURA JARVIS, DOUG SWEET, GEORGE YOUNG, DIANNE BRYDON, BOB GORDON, JOHN DILLON, NANCI WAUGH, BARRE CAMPBELL, PATRICK DION, CAROLYN MCCRIMMON, JOHN ECKER, JOE MACDONALD and GUY SKIPWORTH.

Today’s question comes to us from reader DOUG SWEET: Canada’s third prime minister had a much more famous great-grandson. Name them both.

Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com

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