Last night in West Block

Apr 27, 2022

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WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. I'm your host Zi-Ann Lum with Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Maura Forrest. We bring you inside the room of a high-profile committee for a feel of how MP and Cabinet ministers' moods shift when the cameras switch on and off. JEAN CHAREST wants you to know he's definitely against a consumer carbon tax. Plus, the enviro watchdog clocks concerns with the math behind Canada's hydrogen strategy.

DRIVING THE DAY

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino leaves a Cabinet meeting on April 26, 2022.

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino leaves a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick | Sean Kilpatrick, The Canadian Press

LAST NIGHT ON THE HILL — Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO strolled by his lonesome into a committee room in the basement of West Block, without even a satchel.

"Hello, hello, hello," he said to the MPs and senators already around the table. He joked with Sen. PETER HARDER, who was seated behind a mess of empty food wrappers.

Mendicino joked about making a quick exit. "Do you mind if I leave to eat?" he quipped to quiet chuckles. No such luck. The mood was light before Bloc Québécois MP RHÉAL FORTIN gaveled the meeting into session.

Not for long.

— Parallel tracks: Mendicino was testifying at the special committee that is investigating the government's invocation of the Emergencies Act in February after blockades snarled commerce at border crossings — and life in downtown Ottawa.

The parliamentary probe is separate from the public inquiry announced by the government on Monday, headed up by Justice PAUL S. ROULEAU.

Both the committee and the inquiry are mandated by the Emergencies Act itself.

If there's one knock against what we'll christen the Rouleau Commission, it's that he's tasked with scrutinizing many angles of the trucker convoy and blockades — evolution, impact on the economy, funding sources, and the police response — but the judgment of the federal government itself appears not to be on the agenda.

— Brass tacks: Tory MP GLEN MOTZ opened questions with a plea that Mendicino release all documents that fed the government's decision to invoke a law that had never before been invoked. Mendicino demurred. Motz took it as a yes.

The backstory: The feds recently shielded Cabinet documents on the invocation from a legal challenge of the government's unprecedented action at Federal Court. Tories really, really, really want to see those documents.

No dice on Tuesday evening, though Mendicino did tell reporters Monday that Rouleau would have access to classified docs. (Which will never satisfy an opposition bent on poking a vulnerable government for weaknesses.)

— Unparliamentary language: Motz was a police officer for 35 years, and said he developed a pretty strong "BS detector." He corrected the record to "lie" detector, but not before Liberal MP ARIF VIRANI complained about declining decorum in the room.

Off mic, Motz gestured to the minister. "I could have used another word," he said.

"I'm easy," replied Mendicino.

— Clear lines: It wouldn't be a Canadian committee meeting without a deep dive into a jurisdictional morass. Mendicino told MPs it became clear during the weeks-long occupation — "painfully so" — that Ottawa Police patrol Wellington Street but stop the moment they reach the Parliamentary Precinct, which covers everything north of Wellington from the Rideau Canal to Kent Street. Oh, and the buildings south of Wellington between Elgin Street and Bank Street.

Confused? Of course you are. Here's a map.

Sen. LARRY CAMPBELL, a former Mountie, asked RCMP Commissioner BRENDA LUCKI, who appeared at the committee by videoconference, if she could clarify the RCMP's role in downtown Ottawa.

Lucki explained: The various forces coordinated their efforts. The Mounties oversaw the Parliamentary Protective Service, which is directed by the House of Commons and Senate and responsible for the precinct north of Wellington Street. Ottawa Police, she clarified, are responsible for Wellington Street several feet away. Clear as mud.

Earlier, Mendicino told the committee he hoped they'd sort out how so many police forces in such a concentrated area "are able to cooperate" when it matters.

— Speak of the devil: Ottawa police are prohibiting motor vehicles from a wide swath of downtown Ottawa this weekend as a "Rolling Thunder" protest rolls into town

— That's all, folks: When the committee adjourned before 8 p.m., the tension in the room broke. Motz and fellow Tory MP LARRY BROCK walked over to Mendicino, shook his hand, and exchanged a quiet moment of collegiality.

Remember the old Looney Tunes cartoon with the sheepdog and the wolf? They'd punch in for work, do battle all day as the wolf tried to nab all the sheep he could, and then punch out afterwards and make small talk? Yeah, this was that.

The committee was soon back in action when Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI entered the room for 90 minutes in the hot seat, but Playbook had to file.

— The last word goes to an unnamed parliamentarian who chuckled with a colleague on the sidelines of the meeting: "This ain't the Senate, Toto."

Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Save someone's time by signing up directly. Click here to sign up to this free newsletter.

COUNT ON THIS — Statistics Canada is releasing a second batch of 2021 Census results this morning, and it marks the first time demographic data will reflect gender diversity.

The technical change to the Census was announced two years ago. Folding in questions about sex at birth and gender is intended to address gaps in limited reliable data on transgender and non-binary populations in Canada.

Today's release will distribute updated data breaking down Canada's population by age and type of dwelling. Let's see how many millennials there are, a.k.a Canada's biggest voting bloc.

CONSERVATIVE CORNER

CARBON COUNTING — We're just over a week away from the first Conservative leadership debate and JEAN CHAREST has launched his climate plan for dissection and discussion.

Centre stage is a promise to scrap the "Trudeau Consumer Carbon Tax" and replace it with an unspecified industrial carbon price to cut emissions. The declaration softens attacks from rival PIERRE POILIEVRE, who had painted Charest as a carbon tax supporter.

He's also proposing to eliminate the HST from products that help reduce emissions, listing examples such as "electric vehicles, electric tractors, heat pumps, Energy Star appliances, and high-efficiency windows."

Charest's campaign said the plan would "meet and eventually exceed" the government's previous Paris target, to reduce emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels before 2030 and hit net-zero goals by 2050.

Toronto-based think tank Clean Prosperity praised the plan.

Its executive director MICHAEL BERNSTEIN , clearly a baseball fan, likened Charest to "a general manager showing up to spring training with a plan to win the World Series. Even if there are gaps in his plan, it's clear that he's taking the challenge seriously."

— Good on paper vs. reality: The Charest plan is void of some important details such as around its promise to aid the retrofit and renovation of "millions of Canadian buildings."

Homes and buildings account for 13 percent of Canada's annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Buildings come in all different shapes and sizes. It's currently unclear whether Charet's "Clean Buildings Plan" is applicable to new building stock or existing buildings, commercial-style buildings, institutional, single-family homes or all of the above.

— Courting Quebec and gas industry support: POILIEVRE pledged Tuesday to reconsider Énergie Saguenay's proposed C$14-billion LNG export facility, which was quashed by federal Cabinet in February.

BROWN'S BACKYARD — Poilievre is campaigning on Thursday in Brockville, Ont., where he'll hold an evening rally at a local arena. But his team added another blockbuster event that'll raise the hackles of a certain competitor. Next Monday at 6:30 p.m., Poilievre will be inside Brampton's Embassy Grand Convention Centre — a five-minute drive from the banquet hall where local mayor PATRICK BROWN launched his own campaign.

— Speaking of which: Brown and ROMAN BABER are both officially verified candidates. Their names will appear on the ballot.

On the Hill

ENVIRO WATCHDOG'S BIGGEST BITES — JERRY DEMARCO's audit of the federal government's bet on hydrogen's potential to cut emissions is a distillation of #Ottawa challenges separating aspirations from implementation of carbon-cutting tech.

— Invisible hands: The federal environment watchdog's report concluded Canada's hydrogen strategy is "overly optimistic" and makes "unrealistic assumptions."

The watchdog say the hydrogen strategy used "aggressive and sometimes nonexistent policies," which auditors said risk undermining the credibility of emissions modeling.

The findings are a problem for Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON who has been touting the role Canada — and hydrogen fuel — can play in helping to wean European countries off Russian oil and gas.

— Conflicting reports: A lack of transparency remains a "persistent" issue at both the environment and the natural resources — both charged with implementing programs to slash emissions.

Auditors pointed to one plan from the environment department that estimated hydrogen could reduce 15 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. But wait. They also noted a plan from the natural resources department that estimated the renewable fuel could cut emissions by up to 45 megatonnes.

Poor transparency, incomplete data of varying quality , and department officials admitting policy makers did not use the government's own hydrogen strategy to inform policy decisions — a classic formula for policy incoherence.

Enter consultants.

DeMarco's report makes a piercing observation about the government's reliance on external consultants — challenging the TRUDEAU government's repeated insistence that its policies are led by science.

"Department officials told us that Canada's Emissions Trends reports and the academic papers written by officials at Environment and Climate Change Canada involving the models were reviewed by external peers," the report read. "We found that of the 4 models the department used to estimate emissions, 1 underwent a peer review in 2018."

Economy

MACKLEM'S MACRO LENS — The Bank of Canada governor visits a Senate committee this evening with Senior Deputy Governor CAROLYN ROGERS.

Inflation, interest rates and the central bank's Covid-19 policy decisions are topics sure to be stitched into senators' line of questioning. Plus, as of Tuesday evening, fresh from the bank's digital press, its annual report.

— Jump cut to forward-looking statements: There are 11 such sections, each with multiple points reminiscent of thematic to-do lists for 2022.

They include a pledge to: Launch a "new online business survey" (timeline unspecified); expand its research on how cash and digital currencies are used (timeline unspecified); implement a new hybrid workplace model (timeline unspecified); "raise public awareness of the Bank's emerging areas of responsibility" (details of said "emerging areas" unspecified); publish a report following the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures' recommendations (timeline unspecified); and a vague promise to "explore the potential to build coalitions with a diverse set of partners to enhance Canada's global influence" (details unspecified).

What's your top question for Macklem? POLITICO'S ANDY BLATCHFORD would love to know what burning monetary policy issues are on your mind. Email him: ablatchford@politico.com

For your radar

SIGN UP NOW — Ottawa Playbook's fourth virtual trivia night is set for May 4 at 8 p.m.

Want a sense of things? Here are all the questions (and answers) we asked during one of our previous outings.

There is room at each virtual table for up to six players. Gather up your nerdiest friends and fire us an RSVP.

ASK US ANYTHING

What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it our way.

PAPER TRAIL

FROM THE TENDERS: The Correctional Service of Canada needs fabric for blankets, about 16,000 metres annually … The Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada shares what its Covid-19 vaccination certification form looks like for contractors.

— Natural Resources Canada wants vista clearing on the Canada-U.S. border between B.C. and Washington state, from Ross Lake to monument 44A. "It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine the horizontal distance (Mean sea level) to be cleared including the alpine area, to a maximum funding limitation," the tender notice reads.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

10 a.m. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will attend the Liberals' national caucus meeting, followed by question period at 2 p.m. In the evening, he is heading to a Canada's Building Trades Unions reception and will "deliver remarks."

Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Washington, D.C. to attend the funeral of former U.S. secretary of state MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, which begins at 11 a.m.

10 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will attend his party's national caucus meeting, hold a 12:30 p.m. media availability and attend question period. Singh is on stage at the AQPM's 22nd annual conference to present an award at 5:30 p.m.

8.30 a.m. Statistics Canada releases 2021 census data.

11 a.m. The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability has assembled a band of MPs to call for comprehensive corporate accountability laws in Canada. Joining them are Liberal MP NATHANIAL ERSKINE-SMITH, NDP MPs PETER JULIAN and HEATHER MCPHERSON, Green Parliamentary Leader ELIZABETH MAY and Bloc MP SIMON-PIERRE SAVARD-TREMBLAY.

11:30 a.m. Labour Minister SEAMUS O'REGAN will deliver a speech addressing labor mobility challenges at the Canada's Building Trades Unions' annual conference in Ottawa.

3:30 p.m. House heritage committee members begin their study of the history and current display of hate symbols and emblems in Canada. Witnesses include former Liberal MP MICHAEL LEVITT, now with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, Canadian Anti-Hate Network's BERNIE FARBER and Urban Rez Solutions Social Enterprise's RODERICK BRERETON and FARLEY FLEX.

4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee will hear from Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI on Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

6:30 p.m. The Bank of Canada's TIFF MACKLEM and CAROLYN ROGERS will be at the Senate banking, trade and commerce committee.

MEDIA ROOM

— From POLITICO's EMILY BIRNBAUM and BETSY WOODRUFF SWAN: Twitter's top lawyer reassures staff, cries during meeting about Musk takeover.

— Is woke capitalism winning? POLITICO's Long Game newsletter considers how businesses are squeezed between progressive demands and point-seeking politicians.

— In The Walrus, SARAH LAWRYNUIK pits expectations vs reality in a feature that considers what influence Canada's military had on the Ukrainian resistance.

— Knowing BRIDGET BRINK: POLITICO's CHRISTOPHER MILLER and ANDREW DESIDERO profile Joe Biden's new pick to be ambassador to Ukraine.

— Former Iqaluit mayor MADELEINE REDFERN joined TONY CLEMENT on an episode of Boom and Bust to talk about climate change and the need for real-time data in Canada's Arctic.

PROZONE

If you're a POLITICO Pro subscriber, don't miss our latest policy newsletter: Macro questions for Macklem.

In other headlines for Pros:
— Watchdog challenges the math in Canada's hydrogen strategy.
— Meta and Twitter challenge MPs messaging on misinformation.
— Germany says Russia oil embargo would be 'manageable'
— Musk vs. Europe: The upcoming battle over free speech.
— EU set to miss non-recycled waste reduction goals.
— Birx: Trump's disinfectant comments were a 'tragedy on many levels.'

Playbookers

Birthdays: Happy 40th birthday to Space Canada CEO BRIAN GALLANT. … Sen. RENÉ CORMIER and retired senator JANIS JOHNSON also celebrate today. … And HBD to MOHAMED FAHMY, JOE PESCHISOLIDO and MIKE NICKEL.

Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

Spotted: MARC MILLER at the U.N., delivering a statement in Kanien'kéha (Mohawk) … MARCI IEN, testing positive for Covid-19 … Potential Degrassi:TNG inspo for Ryerson's new name: Toronto Metropolitan University.

Movers and shakers: STUART BERGMAN can scratch "interim" off his biz cards: He's now formally EDC's chief economist and VP … Two new press secretaries joined NDP HQ: ERIN BURCHETT and TRISTAN OLIFF.

Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association Prez BRIAN KINGSTON is in D.C. " for the first time in over two years."

DAVE COURNOYER is starting a substack.

Media mentions: Ex-CP scribe TERESA WRIGHT has personal news: "I have accepted a job as a national online reporter covering health with Global News."

The Donner Prize finalists are out: "Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World," by DAN BREZNITZ; "Value(s): Building a Better World for All," by MARK CARNEY ; "Stand On Guard: Reassessing Threats to Canada's National Security," by STEPHANIE CARVIN; "Indigenomics: Taking a Seat at the Economic Table," by CAROL ANNE HILTON; and "Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic," by ANDRÉ PICARD.

Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

HOUSE BUSINESS

12 p.m. The Senate's veteran affairs subcommittee will hear from two department officials related to issues about "services provided, commemorative activities and the implementation of Veteran's Well-being Act."

3:30 p.m. The House official languages committee meets in camera to discuss travel and its report on government measures to protect the French language.

3:30 p.m. The House international trade committee will hear from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada-ASEAN Business Council, Canada Korea Business Council, Canada Vietnam Society and Greenpeace Canada as it studies Indo-Pacific trade opportunities.

3:30 p.m. In the first hour of its meeting, the House Standing Committee on Health will hear from Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, Canadian Health Workforce Network, the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada and Pallium Canada on Canada's health workforce.

3:30 p.m. The House natural resources committee continues its study of the energy transformation. The witness list includes Unifor, United Steelworkers, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec and Alberta Federation of Labour.

3:30 p.m. The House national defense committee meets to continue their study on recruitment and retention in the Canadian Armed Forces. The committee will hear from senior officials, including Lt.-Gen. Frances J. Allen.

4 p.m. Bill S-203 (an Act respecting a federal framework on autism spectrum disorder) is under clause-by-clause consideration at the Senate's social affairs, science and technology committee. Sen. PATRICIA BOVEY is also on the witness list when senators change gears to review Bill S-208.

6:30 p.m. The Senate's transport and communications committee continues its study of climate change's impact on critical infrastructure. On the witness list: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' MATT GEMMEL, the Canadian Construction Association and Engineers Canada.

TRIVIA

Tuesday's answer: LISA RAITT said of MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER: "I viewed myself as a feminist, and I am a feminist, but Jesus, she took on s--t that I would never even think about being able to stand up to." Find the quote in Chatelaine's new profile of Rempel Garner.

Props to JENN KEAY, CHERYL FULLERTON, LAURA JARVIS, BEN ROTH, LEIGH LAMPERT, GUY SKIPWORTH, DOUG PAGE, MATTHEW TRAPP, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, DARRIN TYNDALL, VICTOR KRISEL, JOHN ECKER and DANIEL PROUSSALIDIS.

Wednesday's question: Who said: "I was made to vote for you and then it's Goodbye Charlie Brown." For bonus marks: Who was on the receiving end of that wrath?

Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com

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