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Presented by The Coalition For Canadian Research: A daily look inside Canadian politics and power. | | | | |  | | By Kyle Duggan | Presented by The Coalition For Canadian Research | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Ottawa Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → The PM and PIERRE POILIEVRE exchange personal verbal blows while on the road. → Committee calls on STEVEN GUILBEAULT to explain himself. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME — The House isn’t sitting this week but that didn’t stop leaders from dropping their gloves.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU and PIERRE POILIEVRE squared off in what felt a little like an election preview, with high-energy ping-pong response clips of them soundbite-ifying in front of campaign-style backdrops. At a stop in Kitchener meant to emphasize cost-of-living issues (limited to five media questions), a reporter asked Poilievre how the Conservatives will respond to the Liberals’ soon-to-come online hate speech legislation. — Blue plate special: Poilievre called it Trudeau’s “latest attack on freedom of expression” and, after rattling through some “woke authoritarian agenda” talking points, delivered a personal blow. “I point out the irony that someone who spent the first half of his adult life as a practising racist, who dressed up in hideous racist costumes so many times he says he can't remember them all, should then be the arbiter on what constitutes hate,” he said,referencing the blackface scandal from the 2019 election. “What he should actually do is look into his own heart and ask himself why he was such a hateful racist, despite his enormous personal privileges — of a multimillion dollar trust fund, being the son of a prime minister, growing up in mansions, traveling the world — why he had so much hate in his heart.” — Return serve: Trudeau shot back from an event in Edmonton. “Mr. Poilievre hasn't even seen the legislation we're about to put forward next week. He is already telling people exactly what it is and what it isn't,” he said at an event, accusing him of “stoking division, creating fear, throwing out personal insults.” “That’s not leadership.” Earlier in the day, Trudeau appeared on “Real Talk” with RYAN JESPERSEN, where he was asked if he’s “100 percent convinced” he’ll lead his party in the next election. Trudeau framed his decision to stay on in terms of a fight for democracy: “Right now in politics — in Canada and around the world — there is a fundamental question that’s being asked around which way we go as democracies. People have realized that it’s easy to instrumentalize anger and get people to vote in ways that are not necessarily in their best interest — take the challenges of the United States in the 2016 election, for example. These are things that can be powerful tools and they will leave people worse off.” — Surprisingly aggressive: Abacus pollster DAVID COLETTO on social media pointed to past research to suggest Poilievre risks overstepping by going on the attack as he did: “The vengeful/uncaring frame is a real liability.” Abacus has Poilievre ahead 19 points;Nanos pegs the lead at 17. — Recall: Policy areas that deal with communication have historically spelled trouble for this government. Its other digital measures, the Online Streaming and Online News acts, activated political constituencies worried about internet freedoms and censorship. The long-delayed third pillar, the online harms bill, could prove to be the most controversial of all, depending on how it’s written. The legislation was promised to combat hate speech, terrorism and child sexual abuse material. — Curt but clear: Poilievre did endorse other restrictive online legislation, though. He said he would support the Senate Bill S-210, which makes it an offence for organizations to make sexually explicit material available to young people online. Here’s the full exchange: → Q: Do you believe parliament should make it law that pornography websites have to verify the ages of users so minors can't access their material? And will [your] future government do this? → A: Yes. Oui. | | 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. | | | | | Where the leaders are | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will be in Nova Scotia today where his first stop is a Cape Breton long-term care facility. At 1:30 p.m. local time, he’ll make a housing announcement and take media questions. Later in the day, he’ll meet with first responders. — Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Winnipeg where she will tour an affordable housing development.
| | DULY NOTED | |
9 a.m. The Parliamentary Budget Officer will publish a new report titled, “Supplementary Estimates (C) 2023-24.”
11 a.m. Governor General MARY SIMON will preside over a ceremony at Rideau Hall to invest 61 appointees into the Order of Canada. 11:30 a.m. Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND is in Longueuil, Quebec, to make an announcement with Canadian Space Agency President LISA CAMPBELL. 2 p.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT will be in Peterborough, Ontario, to make an affordable healing announcement. Conservative MPs ADAM CHAMBERS, MELISSA LANTSMAN and SHUVALOY MAJUMDAR will take part in a panel discussion on the future of Canadian conservatism, hosted by the Canadian Club Toronto this evening. 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 . | | For your radar | | | | 
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault at COP28. | Rafiq Maqbool/AP | ROAD WARRIORS — Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT has a shot to defend himself and explain what the heck he meant when he was talking about no more federal funding for new roads — comments that proved a godsend to conservatives. Political watchers in Canada all know by heart, though, that when you’re explaining, you’re losing. The Commons transport committee voted to have him appear within the next two weeks, along with Housing min. SEAN FRASER and Transport min. PABLO RODRIGUEZ. Guilbeault could use that opportunity to either tamp down on the outrage, or ramp it up further. Place your bets now. — Recall: What he said that sparked a rage flurry,per the Gazette: “Our government has made the decision to stop investing in new road infrastructure.” He later clarified he was only talking about mega projects, and in particular the Quebec Third Link project. — Shots fired: Conservative MPs sounded off ahead of the vote. Transport critic MARK STRAHL slammed the suggestion as a “ridiculous policy from a radical activist” environment minister waging a “war on people who need to drive their cars to live their lives.” MELISSA LANTSMAN said Guilbeault effectively announced an infrastructure plan that means “more soul-sucking traffic, more gridlock.” Liberal MP CHRIS BITTLE accused the opposition of “rage farming” and trying to “squeeze some news out of nothing” during a break week, since Guilbeault has clarified the remarks. — The politics: This is a tricky one to spin out from in English Canada, given that Canada’s car-dependent suburbs are election deciders, and this particular Cabinet minister is a controversy magnet with a penchant for stepping on a new rake every now and then. Premiers, provincial transport ministers and mayors across Canada bristled at his initial comments, including DAVID EBY, DOUG FORD, DANIELLE SMITH and JYOTI GONDEK — not to mention the construction industry and sewer and watermain groups. Canada’s chattering class from across the spectrum dropped their jaws over the communications failure, which has the Conservatives sending out fundraising pitches decrying “woke nonsense.” Pundits spent the past week savaging the gaffe as laughably bad politics and calculating why he’s still in Cabinet. The best context so far hasn’t come from the government, though. Columnist CHANTAL HÉBERT put it in perspective like this on "The Bridge" podcast: “It's made headlines in only one language in this country and not in the French language. And no, it isn't because it got lost in translation. It is because over the past six to eight months, every single Quebec federal minister has been explaining in the context of [the Third Link mega-infrastructure project] that the federal government could only chip in if it had a public transit component. And for months ministers … in Quebec have been saying we are not in the business of funding car-only major infrastructure.” Guilbeault might want to take notes. | | | | A message from The Coalition For Canadian Research:   | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | | |  U.S. President Joe Biden is supporting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next NATO secretary general, a U.S. official said Wednesday. | Michel Euler/AP | — Top of POLITICO this hour: Biden paves way for MARK RUTTE to lead NATO — and confront Putin. — PHILIPPE LAGASSÉ writes for The Line: “Trump’s mobster diplomacy could kneecap our economy if we don’t pay the defence dues he thinks we owe.” — On the Front Burner pod this morning: Is it time for an NDP, Liberal divorce? — Is it true most Canadians break even on the federal carbon tax? The Star’s RAISA PATEL checks the math. — “Trudeau doesn't look like a prime minister who's ready to quit,” DON BRAID writes in the Herald. — In the Edmonton Journal, DAVID STAPLES argues: DANIELLE SMITH's new economic focus feels like a bait-and-switch scam. — Over on The Hub, RICHARD STURSBERG, executive VP of CBC/Radio Canada from 2004 to 2010, makes the case for CanCon reform. — The “Missing Middle” pod co-hosts MIKE MOFFATT and CARA STERN write for The Hub about what Ottawa needs to put in its next budget to tackle the housing crisis — and it’s a tricky situation. | | 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. | | | | | Playbookers | |
Birthdays: HBD to JOHN ECKER, chair of the Ontario Heritage Trust. JOHN TURMEL also celebrates today.
Happy first birthday to THE TRILLIUM. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: The latest NDP fundraising email pitches: “Win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Ottawa for a special day exploring the city with JAGMEET SINGH.” GCSurplus, selling 10 C$10 Chewbacca onesies, sized “12-13 Years.” Stylist FOUAD EID in the pages of Ottawa Business Journal. Media mentions: PHILLIP CRAWLEY will receive the Canadian Journalism Foundation's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. GEOFF RUSS is leaving The Hub. Noted: DPM CHRYSTIA FREELAND’s notice of material change, published Friday by the ethics commissioner, disclosing her copyright to an essay titled, “A Centrist Approach to Public Policy.” A conflict-of-interest screen for Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE related to his dad, GILLES CHAMPAGNE, president of Bionest Technologies’ board of directors, and to Bionest Technologies, its subsidiaries, affiliates and associates. Movers and shakers: MILED HILL, chief of staff to Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ, leaves government early next month. The office’s deputy chief ANSON DURAN will replace him. Food industry GR rep. CARLA VENTIN is joining gt&co as a principal consultant. Long-time diplomat PETER MACARTHUR has been appointed executive director of the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum. The IRPP’s Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation has created the ALPHONSINE LAFOND — TOM MOLLOY Memorial Fellowship on Leadership and Innovation in Indigenous Governance. Read the call for applications. | | PROZONE | | | | 
Alberta has declared the 2024 fire season "open." | Noah Berger/AP | Our latest policy newsletter for Pro s from SUE ALLAN and ZI-ANN LUM: Alberta sounds the fire alarm. In other headlines for Pros: — Inside a clean energy titan’s fight to kill a climate project. — UK to quit energy treaty that ‘penalizes’ net zero. — Buffalo-area Republicans pick candidate for BRIAN HIGGINS seat special election. — U.S. Coast Guard to strengthen port cybersecurity over Chinese hacking fears. — FAA finalizes emissions plan for commercial aircraft. — Biden administration will put an additional $500M into reducing wildfire danger. | | ON THE HILL | |
The House and Senate return Feb. 26.
→ Find House committees here. → Keep track of Senate committees here. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: Black History Month was recognized by the Senate in 2008, 13 years after it was recognized in the House of Commons.
Props to MARJORY LEBRETON, JIM CAMPBELL, GORDON RANDALL, MARCEL MARCOTTE, NANCI WAUGH, DOUG SWEET, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, GANGA WIGNARAJAH and BOB GORDON. Today’s question: Name the sitting senator who said the following: “I long for peace — not just personal peace, but the peace of knowing that everyone has everything they need and everything is ok. It can’t just be peace for me alone and those I love, or for women alone, or for Black people alone, it has to be peace for everybody.” Send your answer 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: 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 | | | | |  |
