Erin O'Toole vs. everybody

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.

Feb 01, 2022 View in browser   By Nick Taylor-Vaisey Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Nick | Follow Politico Canada WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK, I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey. Today, ERIN O'TOOLE is neck deep in damage control. The party's caucus meets tomorrow and O'Toole has 24 hours to save his political career. We unpack the late-breaking madness. Driving the Day IS THE END NIGH? — Multiple sources told multiple outlets late Monday — a landmark evening for unnamed sources — that a rebel alliance has recruited enough MPs to force a vote on ERIN O'TOOLE's command of caucus. Thirty-five Tories signed a letter to call the question on O'Toole's leadership — and possibly oust him as early as Wednesday. As Ottawa wakes up today, the Tory leader is fighting for his political life. — The late-night rally: At the (literal) eleventh hour Monday, O'Toole posted a response on Facebook. He acknowledged the letter and pledged to fight on. "I'm not going anywhere and I'm not turning back. Canada needs us to be united and serious! It's time for a reckoning. To settle this in caucus. Right here. Right now. Once and for all. Anger vs. Optimism. That is the choice in simple terms. I will accept the result of this vote. The signers of this letter must accept it, too. They brought it. They'll have to live with it." — Regular programming: O'Toole's Monday routine wasn't out of the ordinary. He sounded passionate in question period. He offered a polished appeal for national unity on an afternoon Facebook Live. He delivered a cutting critique of the government's Ukraine strategy during an evening debate in the Commons. Those rhetorical turns might have been one of his last chances to prove to skeptical colleagues that he still has the stuff to helm the Tories. The Monday revelations might have surprised even O'Toole's inner circle. The Globe and Mail's BOB FIFE and MARIEKE WALSH reported the leader's office was unaware of the letter that could spell the end of his political career before it was publicized. — O'Toole's spin: CBC's TRAVIS DHANRAJ has a source close to the current leader blaming the "coup" on Alberta MP GARNETT GENUIS . That source traced the foofaraw's origin to December's unanimous consent to ban conversion therapy, which reportedly riled a faction of Tories. The source even had a catchy name for the rebels: the conversion crew. Dhanraj's source claims formerly ousted leader ANDREW SCHEER wants to be interim leader. Scheer soon snuffed out that rumor. — Genuis responds: The Edmonton MP who supported O'Toole's leadership campaign accused his leader of a "smear" that misstated his position on conversion therapy. "This is the kind of division that is tearing at our party and it must come to an end," he tweeted Monday night. "We need leadership that unites instead of divides." — Who has the votes? Yet more unnamed sources blabbed to CBC's J.P. TASKER that O'Toole's detractors have the votes to oust him. At least 60 have signed on, they say. That's slightly more than half of the Tory's 119-member caucus. — The face of dissent: For months, B.C. MP MARK STRAHL 's name has floated around as rebel commander — a role familiar to Strahl's father, Chuck, who once led a caucus revolt against former Canadian Alliance leader STOCKWELL DAY. But Strahl wasn't the headliner on Monday. That honor fell to BOB BENZEN, another former O'Toole ally who tweeted his support for the leadership challenge. — Benzen's case for revolt: "I believe the Conservative caucus has given Mr. O'Toole more than enough chances for a course correction to resolve the concerns of many grassroots members of the party. In consideration of Mr. O'Toole's record of leader, I believe a caucus leadership review is the only way to avoid a dangerous split in the Conservative Party that may not be repairable." — And another thing: Right-leaning columnists pointed to another of Benzen's grievances relevant in the context of the raucous weekend protests: "Failure to clearly stand up for the Charter rights of Canadians during the pandemic." — Rip off the Band-Aid: One MP framed the internecine fight for Global's ALEX BOUTILIER: "This isn't about leadership anymore. It's a fracture in the party." — The kicker: Hours before all of this went down, Tory HQ boasted about its 2021 fundraising numbers . "One of our best years ever," went the tweet. "But more importantly, we are financially able and ready for an election at any time!" What went unsaid? The post-election haul was the worst in a decade. ( h/t DAVID AKIN) TRUDEAU VS. O'TOOLE — Three days into the anti-Covid mandates protest at the foot of the Hill, at basically the first opportunity, things got personal between the prime minister and the leader of the Official Opposition. JUSTIN TRUDEAU filtered the tension on Ottawa's streets through his political Rube Goldberg machine, and landed on a predictable target. — The first salvo: At a 12 o'clock presser, Trudeau fired a warning shot at any elected people who stood alongside protesters over the weekend. "To the politicians exploiting people's fears, I ask you to think long and hard about the consequences of your actions," he said. Later, CBC reporter TOM PARRY asked Trudeau who he was talking about. Guess who? "I think Erin O'Toole is going to need to reflect very carefully on how he's walking a path that supports these people who do not represent truckers, let alone the vast majority of Canadians," he said. THE NEW AGENDA — If anything's going to actually get done in Parliament amid the heated rhetoric, it'll be because Government House Leader MARK HOLLAND — whose job was to deflect PIERRE POILIEVRE and CANDICE BERGEN's question period attacks — can salvage rosier relations with his fellow House leaders. Holland set the stage Monday for the next 15 weeks of parliamentary business. He foreshadowed a productive session that'll make December's four-week sprint, which was precipitated by a two-month delay recalling the House after the election, look positively rushed. "This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you a sense of the ambition that we have for this Parliament," Holland told reporters at an afternoon presser. He acknowledged that mandate letters, delivered to Cabinet just before Christmas, contain a plethora of potential legislation that could see the light of day before summer. — Top priority: Holland did rhyme off a long list of forthcoming legislation, including a bill that'll hive off the slice of Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND's fiscal update that secures delivery of rapid tests to the provinces. Bill C-8 will also be on the agenda. That'll enact the rest of the fiscal update, which means an underused housing tax; a ventilation tax credit; expanded tax deductions for northern residents; an expanded school supplies tax credit; a tax credit for fuel charges paid by some farmers; provincial funding for school ventilation and vaccine passports; and tweaks to emergency Covid loan repayment and EI rules for seasonal workers. As ever, the Liberals need a dance partner. Holland appealed to the opposition to carry over December's fuzzy feelings into the new year. The government has had some success passing Covid bills with unanimous consent. C-8 isn't really that. ASK US ANYTHING What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it all our way. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS — PM Trudeau will speak with French President EMMANUEL MACRON. He'll also speak with DAVID NAYLOR, the co-chair of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, and MONA NEMER, the chief science adviser of Canada. 9 a.m. Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will table a costing note on the Small Business Air Quality Improvement Tax Credit that was tucked into CHRYSTIA FREELAND's fiscal update. 10 a.m. Trudeau will chair Cabinet, as will DPM Freeland. 2 p.m. Freeland will attend question period. So will NDP leader JAGMEET SINGH. (O'Toole's office didn't release a public itinerary.) 3:30 p.m. Singh will meet with the Dairy Farmers of Canada and British Columbia. Talk of the town We've plotted the players who'll hold sway in 2022 as the PM works to define his legacy. | Photo illustration by Beatrice Jin POWER PLAYERS — On Monday, POLITICO launched our interactive look at who holds sway in JUSTIN TRUDEAU's Ottawa. CHRYSTIA FREELAND is prominent in our "real power" quadrant. Chief of staff KATIE TELFORD and her deputy, BRIAN CLOW, were slam dunks in the "silent power" realm. KAREN HOGAN , the auditor general who can command a news agenda at a moment's notice, pops up as a "quiet conscience." First Nations advocate CINDY BLACKSTOCK and AFN chief ROSEANNE ARCHIBALD registered as "loud voices" with public influence. — Under the radar: Playbook asked influential Hill people for colleagues who don't make headlines and might be overlooked on power lists, but still drive the agenda or cultivate impressive rolodexes. We'll spend the week giving the underappreciated set the BOLD-FACED treatment. → First up: CAROL SAAB, the CEO of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities — a conduit to cities everywhere that scores big budget investments . One connected insider said Saab "gets her calls returned" on a regular basis. "FCM more generally for sure," said the insider, "but personally she holds considerable currency among third-party stakeholders." → The radio airwaves: Another longtime observer of Ottawa's halls of power topped their list with CBC Radio's THE HOUSE, hosted by CHRIS HALL : "I'm not sure people in Ottawa realize the reach of that program. I have clients that will tell me what was said in interviews weeks later," said the Hill denizen. "I once got a client from Toronto on the show, and I swear I'm good for life with her." HOUSE BUSINESS — KEVIN LAMOUREUX, the motormouth parliamentary secretary to Government House Leader MARK HOLLAND , tabled responses on Monday to 267 — that's not a typo — written questions on the order paper. "It's a bit lengthy today, but I'll get through it," he sheepishly told the Commons. Playbook tallied them as Lamoureux read them into Hansard (which took more than three minutes). Among the House committees gathering behind closed doors to plan study: citizenship and immigration, Indigenous and northern affairs, and industry (which will discuss its draft report on the acquisition of Shaw by Rogers). 11 a.m. The House committee on procedure will hear from House of Commons officials on Parliament Hill's long-term vision and Centre Block rehabilitation. 11 a.m. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security continues its study on gun control and arms trafficking and will hear from Canada Border Services Agency, Customs and Immigration Union, National Police Federation and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 11 a.m. The House public accounts committee will hear from the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation. 11 a.m. The House environment and sustainable development committee will receive a briefing by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. 6:30 p.m. Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay and officials will brief the veteran affairs committee. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to SERGE JOYAL and JEAN-LOUIS ROY.  Spotted: WORDLE: S-O-L-D. … MANEL MENOUAR, director of policy to Defense Minister ANITA ANAND, seated alongside her boss in Ukraine. Movers and shakers:OLIVIER DUCHESNEAU left his post as PMO senior adviser last Friday. "In politics, the work of people behind the scenes is invaluable. I want to tip my hat to the staff who work hard and who do it with passion." No word on what's next for Duchesneau. HILARY TRAVIS, a senior adviser to Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND, steps away from the Hill after nearly six years — a run that started with an internship in then-innovation minister NAVDEEP BAINS's office. From the tenders: The Canadian Armed Forces, booking hotel rooms in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden . Canadians liberated the same city in 1945. These Canadians will fly home a day before the 77th anniversary of that event. … Fisheries and Oceans, snapping photos of extremely cute newborn harp seals. … ISED, seeking an mRNA expert as the department builds up Canada's vaxx manufacturing game. … The Parliamentary Protective Service, on the hunt for an auditor. Wyatt watch: Moments after Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND launched pre-budget consultations, a familiar voice was heard over the phone lines at her presser. When WYATT SHARPE launched into a long question on the truck convoy idling not far from Freeland's office, the expression on the minister's face went from furrowed-brow confusion — entertaining video evidence: here — to the more traditional smirk of apparent admiration for the Hill's most talkative (virtual) teen. Farewells: MP CAROL HUGHES celebrated the life of JAMIE BURGESS, who died Jan. 10. "Jamie was a mainstay on Parliament Hill for over 20 years, having worked for the likes of former NDP MPs IAIN ANGUS, ROD MURPHY and BILL BLAIKIE. His aptitude and experience always left us in awe." Read his obituary here. Second World War veteran FRED ARSENAULT, who died last week at the age of 101, was also remembered in the House on Monday. GARY ANANDASANGAREE paid tribute to the life of Archbishop DESMOND TUTU on Monday: "He laughed, cried, loved and led his people to a better place. He taught us to forgive but never to forget." PROZONE If you are a subscriber, check out our Pro Canada PM newsletter: Sneak peek at the next 15 weeks. — WTO, OECD vie to host carbon pricing talks. — Biden's Russia problem reveals political landmines in energy policy. — Biden administration to make 20,000 H-2B visas available amid worker shortage. — California weighs help for oil workers in green future. — Trumpworld adjusts to the growing influence of vaccine skeptics within its ranks. MEDIA ROOM — The Hill Times published its annual list of the 100 most influential people to watch in Ottawa. This year's offering includes your Playbook hosts, NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY and ZI-ANN LUM. — Who runs Vancouver? These people, according to VANCOUVER MAGAZINE.— MARC-ANDRÉ COSSETTE shared thoughts and observations on the convoy in a widely shared Twitter thread. — The Star's This Matters pod talks to SUPRIYA DWIVEDI about the political aftermath of the trucker convoy. — BOB DAVIS has a big feature in POLITICO Magazine on the Biden administration's economic/trade plans to counter China — or lack thereof. (h/t POLITICO Playbook) TRIVIA Monday's answer: "It occurs very rarely in the life of a nation that the courageous spirit of one person unites all people in the celebration of his life and in the mourning of his death," Prime Minister PIERRE TRUDEAU said of TERRY FOX.  Tuesday's question: The Queen Elizabeth II Equestrian Monument has been removed from Parliament Hill for the duration of the Centre Block project rehabilitation project. Where is it now? Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Alejandra Waase to find out how: awaase@politico.com. Playbook wouldn't happen without Luiza Ch. Savage and editor Sue Allan.   Follow us on Twitter Nick Taylor-Vaisey @TaylorVaisey Sue Allan @susan_allan Andy Blatchford @AndyBlatchford Maura Forrest @MauraForrest Zi-Ann Lum @ziannlum POLITICO Canada @politicoottawa   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

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