'Welcome back to the bear pit'

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.

Aug 17, 2022 View in browser   By Zi-Ann Lum and Nick Taylor-Vaisey Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Zi-Ann | Follow Politico Canada Welcome to the Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host Zi-Ann Lum with Nick Taylor-Vaisey. A much-anticipated political tradition returns. Municipal politicians commiserate about a collective challenge in recruiting people for public office in 2022. Plus, sound the sad trombone for poll results that suggest a federal regulator is languishing in obscurity. DRIVING THE DAY PUBLIC OFFICE IMAGE REHAB — Politics doesn't have the same pull as it used to. Tuesday marked the return of the "bear pit" at the Association of Municipalities Ontario's annual conference, a spectacle that gives municipal leaders an opportunity to ask whatever questions they want to a phalanx of Ontario Cabinet ministers. There were 28 Ontario Cabinet ministers on stage at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa on Tuesday: MICHAEL TIBOLLO, MICHAEL PARSA, GEORGE PIRIE, PRABMEET SARKARIA, GREG RICKFORD, KALEED RASHEED, MERRILEE FULLERTON, VIC FEDELI, STEPHEN LECCE, PAUL CALANDRA, NEIL LUMSDEN, GRAYDON SMITH, KINGA SURMA, SYLVIA JONES, STEVE CLARK, CAROLYN MULRONEY, DAVID PICCINI, PETER BETHLENFALVY, MICHAEL KERZNER, DOUG DOWNEY, LISA THOMPSON, TODD SMITH, JILL DUNLOP, RAYMOND CHO, MICHAEL FORD, PARM GILL, STAN CHO and CHARMAINE WILLIAMS. But not everyone had a chance to speak. — Airing of grievances: One delegate brought up issues with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway "refusing to pay their share of costs for municipal drainage work on railway property … essentially asking Ontario's property taxpayers to foot the bill for project costs." Another delegate from Northumberland county asked the provincial government to look at rolling out an advertising campaign to get more people involved in politics at the municipal level because recruitment has become a real challenge. "Every member of their council wants to be acclaimed, including two open seats," she said. "It's really hard to get inclusion and diversity if we have people asking to be nominated." The applause that broke out throughout the room echoed the speaker's commiseration. Municipal and Housing Minister STEVE CLARK answered the question by pointing to the attendance in the room, saying the crowd looks different than it did a few years ago. We need more people involved in politics, he said, but blanked an opportunity to bring in colleague CHARMAINE WILLIAMS, associate women's social and economic opportunity minister, to weigh on a topic relevant to her portfolio. — Best/worst EV non-sequitur: When the topic of noise pollution was raised, specifically over cars with loud engines. Clark said he would look into existing legislation that could be utilized to protect the health and well-being of communities. Adding to Clark's comment, Long-Term Care Minister PAUL CALANDRA chimed in, sitting at the other end of the stage, to say rest assured, electric vehicles are quieter. Do you enjoy Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who may like it, too. Hit forward. Click here to sign up to this free newsletter. For your radar SPEAKING OF EVs — Haven't you heard? Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU loves them. U.S. President JOE BIDEN signed a landmark climate, health and tax bill Tuesday, earning new, excited praise from Trudeau. "This is good news for Canadians, for our green economy, and for our growing EV manufacturing sector," he tweeted. The good news stateside means the Liberals will have to hustle getting a suite of promised legislation including tax credits for critical mineral exploration and carbon capture, utilization and storage investment tabled as soon as possible to keep pace with the states. — The X factors: Events will pose a challenge for Trudeau in the upcoming session that may make passing key legislation a challenge. There are multiple concurrent inquiries over the declaration of the Emergencies Act to field, the dazzle of a new Conservative leader to face, and potential brinkmanship to navigate should the NDP have a change of heart with their deal with Liberals. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU has "private meetings" in Ottawa. Same with Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND.  8:15 a.m. Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO is in Niagara Falls for a demo on how the Canada Border Services Agency tackles gun smuggling. A media availability will follow. 8:30 a.m. Statistics Canada releases 2021 Census data about linguistic diversity and an updated snapshot of how English and French speakers are spread across the country. 11 a.m. Families, Children and Social Development Minister KARINA GOULD is in Trois Rivières, Que. to announce new passport pick-up locations. 12 p.m. Authors of Natural Resource Canada's Ontario chapter of the Regional Perspectives Report hold a webinar to discuss their work and findings. 1 p.m. (10 a.m. PT) Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON is in North Vancouver to make a funding announcement related to green buildings. 2 p.m. Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Brampton, Ont. to visit the MDA facility, awarding a plum contract this year for the Canadarm3 program. 4:45 p.m. (2:45 p.m. MT) Tourism Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT is in Red Deer, Alta. to make the same announcement as Families, Children and Social Development Minister KARINA GOULD, but in western Canada. PAPER TRAIL INVISIBILITY CLOAK — If the federal body that approves or rejects major energy projects — say, controversial pipelines in an era of climate action — aspires to a high profile, recently published polling offers a stark reality check. A small fraction of Canadians can name the Canada Energy Regulator without being prompted by a pollster. — The good news: For the tidy sum of C$139,148.63 (including HST), Environics Research surveyed 1,008 Canadian adults. The pollster reported the energy regulator wasn't struggling with a bad image. "Canadians' confidence in CER remains steady, at a good level, especially in relation to ensuring companies comply with regulations, ensuring public safety and making decisions based on scientific evidence." — The bad news: When asked to name the federal regulator that does what the CER does, a paltry 3 percent named it. Two percent named the precursor National Energy Board. One percent picked TC Energy, which … builds pipelines. A whopping 83 percent didn't name any organization, a four-point increase over similar polling in 2020. Even when they were told the CER was the federal regulator, only 36 percent had heard of it — also down from 41 percent in 2021 and 2020. — Shifting priorities: Canadians appear to be paying less attention to the things the CER regulates, too. Only 34 percent told Environics they'd "heard or read anything recently about proposed or existing pipelines or powerline projects in the country." Even in Alberta, that number was only 38 percent. That's way down from 2020, when 62 percent of Canadians and 70 percent of Albertans said the same. PROZONE If you're a POLITICO Pro subscriber, don't miss our latest policy newsletter from ANDY BLATCHFORD: Macklem's new comms strategy. In other news for subscribers: — Treasury releases EV tax credit guidance — with fewer vehicles now qualifying. — Exemptions in climate bill fuel debate about LNG emissions. — Germans face higher bills as tax aids natural gas importers. — Xinjiang forced labor law halts solar panels at U.S. border. — Enviro justice advocates slam Biden's climate compromise. MEDIA ROOM — Top of POLITICO this morning: 2024 preview? Cheney telegraphs her next shot at Trump. — THE HILL TIMES: Co-ordinated, vitriolic online attacks against female journalists prompt police reports, calls for action from media organizations. — ANDREW COYNE writes on what happens next if frontrunner DANIELLE SMITH wins the UCP leadership race in Alberta: "We are potentially seven weeks away from a constitutional crisis, the likes of which this country has not seen." — CP's MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH takes on a timely question: Why is ArriveCan still mandatory, and what is Ottawa's plan for the contentious app? — A "tremendous lack of respect for legacy": Former TV news anchor KEVIN NEWMAN writes on LISA LAFLAMME's surprise ouster for The Hub. And here's VINAY MENON  breaking it down: "If the lead journalist tasked with caring about daily journalism is whacked by someone who is motivated by non-journalism, that's not good for journalism." — KATHERINE SCOTT of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says that thanks to pandemic benefits, "Canada experienced a 18.9% drop in poverty between 2019 and 2020 — the largest in decades." Playbookers Birthdays: HBD + 1 to CBC dynamo and West of Centre podcast host KATHLEEN PETTY. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: On the patio at the Metropolitain: BONNIE CROMBIE and HAZEL MCCALLION sitting down for lunch, SHEILA COPPS, MONA FORTIER. Walking past: PATRICK BROWN. International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN in Beirut meeting with Prime Minister-designate NAJIB MIKATI and NABIH BERRI, speaker of the Lebanese Parliament … Agriculture Minister MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley picking berries with Liberal MP KODY BLOIS … Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT taking a walk at Signal Hill in St. John's with Premier ANDREW FUREY. Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA, testing positive for Covid. Movers and shakers: FARAH MOHAMED named the new CEO of the Prince's Trust Canada … STEVEN DEL DUCA, in the run to be mayor of Vaughan … JESSE HELMER starts at the Smart Prosperity Institute next week. MARK DEKAN will be COO of the POLITICO Media Group. He currently is CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Polska. … Global news editor JOHN YEARWOOD is moving on to a new role as editorial director for diversity and culture at POLITICO. His new job begins Sept. 6. Media mentions: Globe reporter MARIEKE WALSH in Berlin to start the Burns fellowship  Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. TRIVIA Tuesday's answer: We were looking for a combo of either Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter — all presidents who never visited Canada during their 20th century tenure. Props to JOSEPH PLANTA, KEVIN BOSCH, GUY SKIPWORTH, DOUG RICE, LAURA JARVIS, SEAN WEBSTER, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and NANCI WAUGH. Wednesday's question : What is the name of the oldest newspaper in the Library of Parliament's collection? Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness in 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, Sue Allan and editor John Yearwood.   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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