| | | | |  | | By Maura Forrest and Zi-Ann Lum | Send tips I Email Maura l Email Zi-Ann l Subscribe here WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. We're your hosts, Maura Forrest and Zi-Ann Lum. Today, we take a look at the political reaction in Canada to the bombshell U.S. Supreme Court leak. Also, should Canada's voting age be lowered to 16? And MARCO MENDICINO spars with reporters.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
The draft opinion, if it holds, would be the culmination of half a century of legal conservatives organizing around the idea that Roe was wrongly decided and needed to be reversed. | Anna Johnson/AP Photo | THE FALLOUT — Reaction on Parliament Hill to the leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade unfolded much as it does every time abortion rights are in the news. The Liberals and NDP were quick to voice their support for reproductive rights. The Conservatives were quick to not say much. The Liberals were quick to use that against them. And so on. The day began with news that Conservative interim leader CANDICE BERGEN had instructed her caucus not to comment on the leak. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU weighed in quickly, tweeting that "Every woman in Canada has a right to a safe and legal abortion." Various Liberal Cabinet ministers chimed in to voice their support for reproductive rights and accuse the Conservatives of hiding their true colors. By the end of the day, the Conservative Party and various Conservative leadership candidates were clarifying their positions on abortion. It was all a bit of déjà vu. There is, in fact, a relevant policy angle to all this. The Liberals promised during the last election campaign to add regulations to the Canada Health Act to ensure equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services. That promise landed in Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS's mandate letter, but we haven't heard much about it since. — Instead: It was the politics of the thing that won the day. Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY, for example, had lots and lots to say about the Conservatives, both in person and online. "The silence from the Conservatives is deafening," she tweeted. She told reporters the Tory leadership candidates are "all trying to court the anti-choice vote," which is not actually true, but why bog down in details? Joly warned that Canada needs to ensure "there is no backsliding of women's rights to choose." But the threat of that seems somewhat remote, given the only party with a sizable caucus of pro-life MPs has tied itself in knots for years promising not to restrict reproductive rights. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH told reporters the right to abortion is secure in Canada, but equal access remains a problem. — And as for the Conservatives? As ever, it's complicated. POLITICO's NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY takes a look this morning at how Campaign Life Coalition is responding to the news from south of the border, and the word they're using is "fortuitous." The pro-life advocacy group is expecting a fundraising bump just as it's pumping resources into the Conservative leadership race and bolstering socially conservative candidate LESLYN LEWIS. Meanwhile, Conservative frontrunner PIERRE POILIEVRE says he wouldn't introduce laws restricting abortion access. JEAN CHAREST and PATRICK BROWN have said they're pro-choice. — Final word: Campaign Life says it expects the draft ruling to act as a "motivator for pro-lifers" in Canada. We'll have to wait and see. Next week's March for Life rally on Parliament Hill may be a good litmus test. — Related news from Washington: Biden wants to make the Roe v. Wade decision about much more than abortion.
| | AROUND THE HILL | | THE OUT OF TOWNERS — Today marks the start of Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister ANN LINDE's first official trip to Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY 's office announced that Russia's war in Ukraine is on the May 4-6 bilat agenda, as is "cooperation in the Arctic, justice and accountability for victims of Flight PS752 and promoting democracy and countering disinformation." An armchair discussion ("Sweden and Canada: perspectives on a feminist view of global challenges") is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday followed by a 5 p.m. media availability. SWEET 16 — The House of Commons will debate an NDP private member's bill today seeking to lower the voting age to 16. This is something of a perennial issue for the New Democrats — MP DON DAVIES has brought forward several similar bills over the years. But this time, they say, the circumstances are different. Climate change and housing prices are pressing political issues that disproportionately affect the young. "Young people should have a say in how this is dealt with," Leader JAGMEET SINGH told reporters Tuesday. (And sure, young people disproportionately support the NDP, but that's beside the point.) — The circumstances are different in other ways as well: A group of young people launched a legal challenge in Ontario Superior Court late last year, arguing it's unconstitutional to ban Canadians under age 18 from voting. If they're successful, the age limit could be tossed out. And there's another thing the NDP are quick to point out. Government House Leader MARK HOLLAND once tabled a very similar bill, way back in 2004. Will he now vote against an idea he used to support? — All in favor? Holland's office didn't tell us much, and private member's bills rarely pass, but this one at least has some cross-party support. Liberal MP JULIE DABRUSIN and Green MP MIKE MORRICE told Playbook they'll be voting in favor. Conservative MP RYAN WILLIAMS told us he hasn't taken a position, but he's "most interested in ensuring we have higher voter turnouts and participation." The three of them and the bill's sponsor, NDP MP TAYLOR BACHRACH, will be speaking after today's debate with Vote16 Canada, a national campaign to lower the voting age. The bill has also been seconded by a couple of other Liberal MPs, SHERRY ROMANADO and JENICA ATWIN. — Next steps: There won't be a vote on the bill today. That will likely come in the fall, after another hour of debate. Meanwhile, a similar bill has been introduced in the Red Chamber by Senator MARILOU MCPHEDRAN. What do you think? Should Canada's voting age be reduced to 16? Let us know at ottawaplaybook@politico.com .
| | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | | 
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino arrives for a news conference Feb. 16, 2022 in Ottawa. | Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press. | CABINET CONFIDENCE — Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO was asked yet again on Tuesday whether he will share confidential Cabinet documents with the official inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act, to be led by Justice Paul Rouleau. Here's some of his exchange with reporters (partly translated and lightly edited for, um… clarity?): REPORTER: Are you ready to waive Cabinet confidence for all the documents? MENDICINO: When Justice Rouleau asks us for access, we'll make that decision. REPORTER: Does that mean no? REPORTER: It's been "no" every time people ask. MENDICINO: In fairness, that's not accurate. REPORTER: When has your government lifted Cabinet confidence in regard to the Emergencies Act? MENDICINO: Well, as I said, we've afforded Justice Rouleau with the power to compel witnesses, information, and documents, and in fairness we've contemplated that he would get access to classified information. So we look forward to collaborating with him. REPORTER: Classified information is not Cabinet confidence. REPORTER: If it were "yes," you would already have said "yes." MENDICINO: Well, I think you're making that assumption. We haven't come to those decisions yet.
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| | For your radar | | A FUN THING — Ottawa Playbook's fourth virtual trivia night is happening tonight at 8 p.m. HOLD THE LINE — MARIA RESSA believes social media platforms are playing with fire. The fire, according to the Nobel Peace Prize winner, is algorithms which she defined as "opinion in code implemented at a scale that we could never have imagined that's insidiously shaping our future by encouraging the worst of us, the worst of human behavior." The Rappler CEO beamed in from Geneva to deliver the keynote speech at World Press Freedom Canada's awards luncheon at the NAC on Tuesday, delivering sobering words about democracy being under threat while the audience ate salmon. "We're all connected," Ressa said. "Journalists are under attack. We're discredited because we push back against lies … But in this existential battle for facts, we can't do it alone." — Little boxes : Algorithms are tweaked to maximize engagement. Engagement is maximized when emotions are stirred. These emotions, Ressa said, can lead to feelings of moral outrage. "That's part of the reason you stay on." — The F-word: When an audience member asked how far we can go in regulating platforms without inordinate limitations on free speech, Ressa said it isn't about that. "This is an algorithmic issue. It's a technology issue," she said. "It's the way that tech has hidden how it has manipulated our biology for profit."
| | ASK US ANYTHING | | What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it our way.
| | PAPER TRAIL | | REDRAWING RIDINGS — A proposal is in for a new federal electoral map for Nova Scotia. The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Nova Scotia has pitched readjustments to change all of the province's 11 electoral ridings, including some name changes. — Out with the old: Cape Breton—Canso, Central Nova, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook and West Nova. — In with the new: Acadian Shore—Shelburne, Cape Breton—Antigonish, Pictou—Eastern Shore—Preston and Shubenacadie—Bedford Basin. The commission explained in a Canada Gazette notice that redistribution is merited to account for the province's population boost since 2011 and more people living in urban Halifax. "Halifax West accounts for over 50 percent of the province's growth." — No shortcut: It's an issue that can't be solved simply by one revision to Halifax West's electoral boundaries. "Adjusting the boundary or boundaries of one riding necessarily results in the adjustment of adjoining ridings, and this often causes a cascading effect to others," read the notice. "The marked growth in the urban ridings requires that the Commission consider how population can be added to more rural ridings." The commission is chaired by Justice CINDY BOURGEOIS. Public meetings will kick off at the end of the month in Sydney, N.S., the first of nine scheduled through May and June. FROM THE TENDERS — The RCMP is shopping around for 61 black holes, oops, 61 "customized metal filing cabinets." The request for proposal has one technical criteria to decide a winning bid: "The lowest evaluated price will be recommended for award of a contract."
| | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | 10 a.m. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will attend the Liberals' national caucus meeting. "Private meetings" are on the itinerary. The PM and Mental Health and Addictions Minister CAROLYN BENNETT will meet health care workers and advocates in West Block at 1 p.m. to mark "World Maternal Mental Health Day and Mental Health Week." Trudeau will attend question period at 2 p.m. 10 a.m. Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend the Liberals' national caucus meeting and question period at 2 p.m. "Private meetings" are on the itinerary. 10 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH attends his party's national caucus meeting. He'll hold a media availability at 12:30 p.m. before attending question period at 2 p.m. 9:45 a.m. Governor General MARY SIMON will meet Quebec Lieutenant Governor MICHEL DOYON during an official visit to Quebec City. Simon's day will include meetings with Grand Chief of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee MANDY GULL-MASTY, Chief GHISLAIN PICARD (regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador), National Assembly President FRANÇOIS PARADIS, Quebec Liberal Party Leader DOMINIQUE ANGLADE and Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT. 11 a.m. (Pacific time) CSIS Director DANIEL VIGNEAULT is the keynote speaker at an UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs virtual event to talk about national security and "the organization's ongoing transformation."
| | MEDIA ROOM | | — The Ontario election officially starts today and Global News' DAVID AKIN analyzes how the outcome of the race could influence federal politics, specifically the endurance of that Liberal-NDP deal. "Some Liberal backbenchers are already questioning JUSTIN TRUDEAU 's coziness with federal NDP leader JAGMEET SINGH," Akin writes. — From POLITICO: Trump-backed Vance wins Ohio GOP Senate nod. — Former CPC Leader ERIN O'TOOLE talks about mental health after service and MP ALEX RUFF's buddy check on him in the latest Blue Skies pod. — APTN's BRETT FORESTER reports on a federal government legal brief that has feds critics' "worst fears" about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. — Boston University law professor ROBERT L. TSAI takes a close read of the draft SCOTUS opinion overturning Roe for POLITICO to see what rights could unravel next.
| | PROZONE | | If you're a POLITICO Pro subscriber, don't miss our latest policy newsletter from ANDY BLATCHFORD: On deck in Canada for the USTR. In other headlines for Pros:
— Diesel prices hit all-time highs, pinching supply chains.
— U.S. munitions stockpile won't dip below minimum levels, Austin pledges.
— Biden administration to begin process of deciding to extend or end China tariffs.
— WTO presents Covid vaccine IP waiver text to wider membership.
| | Playbookers | | Birthdays: HBD to Sen. MICHAEL MACDONALD, JOHN BOSLEY and GAR KNUTSON. HBD + 1 to SHAKIR CHAMBERS. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: At the World Press Freedom Day Awards Luncheon in Ottawa: PABLO RODRIGUEZ, JAGMEET SINGH, STEVEN MACKINNON, JULIE DABRUSIN, HEATHER MCPHERSON, CHARLIE ANGUS, CATHERINE MCKENNA, Norwegian Ambassador JON ELVEDAL FREDRIKSEN, Australian High Commissioner SCOTT RYAN, SARAH ANDREWS, JIM ARMOUR,HOWARD FREMETH, SHAWN MCCARTHY, JOHN IVISON, KRISTY KIRKUP, RAYMOND FILION, AMY CASTLE,FATIMA SYED, BRIAN PLATT, CHRISTOPHER NARDI, DAVID REEVELY, FRANCINE COMPTON, CHRIS WADDELL, JOANNE CHIANELLO, GUILLAUME ST-PIERRE, ELIZABETH THOMPSON, CARL MEYER, DANIEL LEBLANC, HUGH WINSOR, VASSY KAPELOS, HEATHER SCOFFIELD. Also in the crowd at the National Arts Centre event: Senators PETER HARDER and JULIE MIVILLE-DESCHENES, British High Commissioner SUSANNAH GOSHKO,YULIA KOVALIV, Ukraine's ambassador-designate to Canada, New Zealand High Commissioner SCOTT HARVEY, Canadian Bankers Association President and CEO ANTHONY OSTLER, MARIA VASS-SALAZAR, Hungary's top diplomat in Ottawa, Estonian Ambassador TOOMAS LUKK, RONEN HOFFMAN, Israel's ambassador to Canada, Jamaica's High Commissioner SHARON MILLER … and so many more. DOUG FORD folk words (say that 10 times fast) gets the Wordle treatment … Tourism Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT at home with Covid-19 … Canadian Olympic climber ALANNAH YIP on the Hill meeting with MPs and Cabinet ministers. Movers and shakers: Props to all the nominees in the National Magazine Awards. Maclean's leads the field with 23 nominations. Media mentions: ADRIAN GHOBRIAL is joining CTV National News as a correspondent based in Toronto. Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.
| | HOUSE BUSINESS | | Keep up to House committee schedules here. Find Senate meeting schedules here. 12 p.m. The House citizenship and immigration committee is behind closed doors to work on a couple of reports, including one on foreign students. 3:30 p.m. The House natural resources committee will hear from a roster of Indigenous leaders as it studies Canada's energy transformation. 3:30 p.m.The House health committee will continue its study titled, "Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic." 3:30 p.m. The House official languages committee will meet in camera to consider a report on the use of French in Quebec and Canada. 3:30 p.m. The House international trade committee is also behind closed doors to discuss a report on Canada's exports of environmental and clean technology goods and services. 3:30 p.m. The House national defense committee will continue its study titled, "Rising Domestic Operational Deployments and Challenges for the Canadian Armed Forces." The witness list includes CHRISTIAN LEUPRECHT, professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, and retired Lt.-Gen. WALTER SEMIANIW. 3:30 p.m. The House committee on heritage will meet in camera to discuss committee business and its report on the impact on local news of Rogers Communication Inc.'s takeover of Shaw Communications. When the Senate rises, but not before 4 p.m. The Senate committee on social affairs, science and tech will convene to discuss Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada. When the Senate rises, but not before 4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee will hear from Elizabeth Fry Societies, the Indigenous Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and others as it studies Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make related amendments to other Acts (COVID-19 response and other measures) When the Senate rises but not before 6:30 p.m. The Senate banking, trade and commerce committee will hear from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in regulatory modernization. When the Senate rises but not before 6:30 p.m. the Senate committee on transport and communications will hear from CP, CN and VIA Rail on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors.
| | TRIVIA | | Tuesday's answer: BILL GRAHAM was first elected to office in 1993. Magician DOUG HENNING placed sixth in the race for the Rosedale riding. Props to BEN ROTH, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, NICK MASCIANTONIO, STEVE PAIKIN, and KEVIN BOSCH. Wednesday's question: What is the official flower of Nunavut? 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 | | | | 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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