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Presented by The Coalition For Canadian Research: A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Kyle Duggan and Sue Allan | Presented by The Coalition For Canadian Research | Thanks for reading the Ottawa Playbook. Let’s get to it. In today's edition: → An interview with Canada’s ambassador to the U.N. “Everyone has to redouble their efforts,” BOB RAE tells Playbook. “That includes us in Canada.” → Three things for your radar on this Tuesday that feels like Monday. → Six sound bites and some gold kicks to keep you current on the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, addresses a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Feb. 19, 2024. | Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP | PUTIN'S NEW ENEMY — YULIA NAVALNAYA, the widow of politician ALEXEI NAVALNY, is vowing to continue her husband’s work. “By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart, and half of my soul. But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up,” she announced Monday in a YouTube video. “I will continue Alexei Navalny’s cause.” As POLITICO’s EVA HARTOG and SERGEY GORYASHKO report, Navalnaya spent years dismissing the idea that she wanted a political career of her own. That changed overnight with news of her husband’s death in a prison north of the Arctic Circle. Canada’s ambassador to the U.N. BOB RAE tells Playbook that allies of Ukraine must “redouble” their efforts because a Russian win would setback global democracy. He spoke to Playbook just ahead of the weekend. Some excerpts here: What do you make of the timing of his death? From all the pictures that we’ve seen of Navalny, he was in terrible physical condition in these prisons. But I think that there’s such a thing as criminal negligence causing death. The Russian regime did everything they could to weaken him or kill him. But the point is that there’s still an opposition. There’s hundreds of thousands who have left Russia, and another whole swath of people who left after the war in Ukraine started. But Putin’s regime is ever more repressive. And he’s heading for an election, but his election will be a joke because he doesn’t let anybody run against him who’s got any standing. Are you worried about support for Ukraine slipping at this moment? Everybody has to come to grips with the fact that if Putin is allowed to gain any kind of victory in Ukraine, that it’s a major setback for the cause of democracy, not only in Ukraine, but around the world, because Putin takes tremendous comfort from our allowing him to succeed in his venture. It’s critically important that all of us in NATO — anybody who loves freedom or believes in democracy — has to do everything they can to try to defeat Putin. Putin needs to be defeated. His defeat would be a tremendous victory for freedom. And his victory would be a tremendous, tremendous cause of concern. That would be a terrible setback. Is it strange that this happened just before the presidential elections? I don’t know. I think it has more to do with Navalny’s health than anything else. The condition of his health has been determined by the actions of the Russian government against him. What needs to be done next to stop Putin? Everyone has to redouble their efforts. That includes us in Canada. It includes all of NATO. The Munich conference is meeting this weekend. And it’s a critical message for the Munich conference to understand that a horrendously destructive tyrant remains in charge of a significant government in the world, the government of Russia. Russia’s tyranny is causing enormous hardship to its own people, and to the people of the world. And you don’t succeed against tyrants by appeasing them. You succeed against tyrants by defeating them. Related reading: — The New York Times: Inside Navalny’s final months, in his own words. — POLITICO’s EVA HARTOG, JAMIE DETTMER and SERGEY GORYASHKO write: With Navalny’s death, Russians lose their last hope. — After Navalny’s death, the West must get tougher on Putin, MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY writes for POLITICO. | | A message from The Coalition For Canadian Research: The Coalition for Canadian Research is sounding the alarm: Canada’s research funding is declining, threatening our future as a global leader in science and research. It's time the federal government steps up with significant investment. The world is watching, and our researchers are waiting. Canada must not fall behind. Let’s support researchers in this year’s budget. Act now and tell our elected officials it’s time to fund Canadian research. | | |
| | THREE THINGS WE'RE WATCHING | | |  This week will mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. | Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images | Russia’s war in Ukraine is about to enter its third year. “If you are tired of this war, imagine how exhausted Ukrainians must be,” VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA writes in a POLITICO feature, “Being Ukrainian in 2024.” Back then, Melkozerova's worry was the Russians. “I was thinking of my inevitable death, of soldiers laying their hands on me, torturing me just because I am Ukrainian,” she writes. “This time, the sinking feeling comes from the West. Our allies, who promised to support us as long as it takes, have other problems to deal with.” — In related reading: POLITICO’s team reports from the Munich Security Conference:
“Ukraine’s worsening prospects on the battlefield and questions about America’s commitment to Kyiv dominated the annual event.” The consumer price index report. As NOJOUD AL MALLEES of The Canadian Press previews of today’s report, RBC, CIBC and TD all expect the annual inflation rate eased to 3.2 percent, from 3.4 per cent in December. — In related reading: Statistics Canada says cell-service bills dropped almost 30 percent in 2023. MATT LUNDY and ALEXANDRA POSADZKI of the Globe report that the truth is more complex “and the Statscan numbers likely overstate the extent to which people are paying less.” The return of the Ontario legislature. Premier DOUG FORD’s omnibus “Get It Done Act” will be a priority when provincial lawmakers return to Toronto today after a 10-week break. “That is not a joke; it’s the actual name of the legislation,” ROBYN URBACK writes in the Globe. One piece of the legislation would require a referendum before any future Ontario government ushers in a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade plan, as Ford announced last week at a Mississauga gas station. The legislation also seeks to ban tolls on provincial highways and enable automatic licence plate renewals. — In related reading: COLIN D'MELLO and ISAAC CALLAN of Global News set the scene: “Ford is set to reopen the provincial legislature on Tuesday with hopes of putting the bruising Greenbelt scandal behind him and focusing on the next provincial election — looking to define which political party is focused on making life more affordable.” | | | | A message from The Coalition For Canadian Research:   | | | | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will be in the Vancouver area where he'll make a housing announcement with B.C. Premier DAVID EBY. Later in the day, he'll attend an event with high school kids, then another with seniors.
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Quebec City to meet with clean energy leaders. At 1:25 p.m., she’ll participate in a conversation at the Association québécoise de la production d'énergie renouvelable 2024 symposium. — Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET is in La Malbaie, Quebec, where he’ll meet with representatives of the fishing industry. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will be at Queen’s Park for newly elected Ontario Green MPP Aislinn Clancy’s first day in the legislature. We're tracking every major political event of 2024 on a mega-calendar. Send us events and download the calendar yourself for Google and other clients . | | 2024 WATCH | | | | 
Donald Trump and his "Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker." A thousand pairs of the "super limited" shoes retailed for $399 U.S. before they sold out. | AP | SEEN AND HEARD — The next Republican primary is Saturday in South Carolina with just NIKKI HALEY and DONALD TRUMP still in the pool of well-known candidates. Canadians who downed tools over Family Day weekend — and its many variations — still no doubt know about the release of $399 Trump-branded gold sneakers. It was Presidents Day weekend with a Monday holiday in the U.S. Here’s a sampling of sound bites to keep you current on the campaign: — “Crooked judge. Crooked judge,” Trump said Saturday referring to the previous day’s ruling in New York that hit him with a $355 million fraud penalty. “The case is a complete and total sham. It’s a sham case.” — “If Trump is elected, there will be celebrations in the Kremlin, there’s no doubt about it,” Trump’s former national security adviser JOHN BOLTON said Sunday. “Because Putin thinks that he is an easy mark.” — “If Mr. Trump will come, I am ready even to go with him to the front line,” Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY said during his stop at the Munich Security Conference. — “I’m going to run and I’m going to win, and y’all can talk about support later. Right now you can ask him if he’s going to support me when I’m the nominee,” Haley told an interviewer when asked if she would support Trump were he to become the GOP nominee for president again. — “The challenge is, we just don’t know — and will likely never know — if nominating Biden is riskier than letting Democratic activists and insiders pick a lesser-known and potentially weaker general election candidate at the convention with three months to go,” JON FAVREAU, the host of the “Pod Save America” podcast and former BARACK OBAMA speechwriter, wrote in a weekend thread on X. — “We’re kind of, like, crises-ed out,” one Democrat told The New York Times in a feature published Monday that suggests anti-Trump voters are up against exhaustion. | | PROZONE | |
Don’t miss our latest newsletter for Pro s from ZI-ANN LUM.
In other news for Pros: — Trudeau says Washington could end lumber spat. — WTO boss too busy — for now — to think about 2nd term. — California bill would replace 'natural gas' with 'methane' in state laws. — NOAA expands coral alert system after 2023's extreme summer. — How climate Republicans see Trump’s rise. — Big Tech tells politicians: We’ll control the deepfakes. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— ELIZABETH THOMPSON of CBC News reports that senators have received panic buttons in response to rising concerns about security on Parliament Hill.
— POLITICO’s MICHAEL SCHAFFER reports from ANTONY BLINKEN’s driveway — a new front in contemporary protest and political culture. — The Toronto Star says Canadian governments have lost more than C$10 million to online scammers. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE wouldn’t respond to interview requests by Le Devoir, so reporters SANDRINE VIEIRA and BORIS PROULX pored over the MP’s 5,400 interventions and 3,680 votes over 20 years for a sense of what direction a Poilievre-led government could take Canada. — From POLITICO’s ALEX WARD: JAKE SULLIVAN’s revolution, adapted from Ward’s forthcoming book, “The Internationalists.” — Health reporter ELIZABETH PAYNE’s feature on her father’s journey through Canada’s health-care system is a profound and essential read. | | Playbookers | |
Birthdays: HBD to Sen. PATTI LABOUCANE-BENSON and to COLE HOGAN of Proof Strategies. HBD + 1 to JESS SPINDLER in the department of justice.
Celebrate your day with the Playbook community. Send us the details. We’ll let everyone know. Spotted: Former PM STEPHEN HARPER, has made a surprise trip to Israel. Timed with his trip, Harper published an opinion piece in the National Post: “Israel's war is just, Hamas must surrender or be eliminated.” The RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY, open: Pretoria to Bank … for walking. TAX SEASON, underway. New York Gov. KATHY HOCHUL, eating words. JULIAN ASSANGE’s possible last stand in London. Housing Minister SEAN FRASER, announcing housing agreements with Banff, Sylvan Lake, Bow Island, Westlock, Smoky Lake and the village of Duchess. Details via The Canadian Press. European Commission President URSULA VON DER LEYEN announcing her bid for a second term. News that Italian Prime Minister GIORGIA MELONI will head to Toronto March 2, the PMO announced. Movers and shakers: There was a welcome ceremony on Monday for Supreme Court Justice MARY MOREAU. Christian Paas-Lang of CBC News reports: “Moreau's seat on the court now means that five out of the nine justices are women. It's the first time women have been in the majority in the court's almost 150-year long history.” | | A message from The Coalition For Canadian Research: Supporting Canadian ambition should be a given. Yet, in an era where innovation and talent defines national strength, Canada’s current research funding shortfall is starkly out of step with our potential. While our global counterparts, like the US, Germany, and Japan, have made research investments a cornerstone of their economic agendas, Canada risks falling behind without a significant change in course.
Investing in research is a matter of pride and a pathway towards securing a more prosperous future where Canada leads in solving world challenges, from climate change to health crises. The time for half-measures is over. Canada must demonstrate ambition and invest in the brilliant minds that call our country home. Without action, we risk not only falling behind but also failing our potential as a beacon of innovation and excellence. Take action today and tell our leaders: Now is the moment to invest in Canadian research. | | |
| | ON THE HILL | |
The House and Senate return Feb. 26.
| | | TRIVIA | | |
Friday’s answer: VIVIAN BARBOT served as Bloc Québécois leader after GILLES DUCEPPE and before DANIEL PAILLÉ.
Props to DENISE SIELE, GANGA WIGNARAJAH, BOB GORDON, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, STEVEN HOGUE, PATRICK ST-JACQUES, MATT DELISLE, ANDREW BALFOUR, MATTHEW CONWAY, GORDON RANDALL, BRANDON RABIDEAU and MARCEL MARCOTTE. Today’s question: The Royal Ontario Museum just launched a C$130 million renovation project that will “give its Crystal a polish.” Who is its iconic/controversial Crystal wing named after? 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? Run a Playbook ad campaign. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. | | | | 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 | | | | |  |
