Canada vs. the World

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.

Nov 28, 2022 View in browser   By Maura Forrest Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Maura Forrest. Canada is out of the World Cup, but at least we have a new Indo-Pacific strategy, right? Also, we take a look at the week ahead for the Emergencies Act inquiry (no, it's not over). And don't say PIERRE POILIEVRE doesn't talk to (certain) media. DRIVING THE DAY INCREASINGLY DISRUPTIVE — Ahead of the long-awaited release of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, the mood in the country was electric. Not because of the Indo-Pacific strategy per se, but because Canada had just scored its first-ever goal at the men's World Cup, two minutes into its match against Croatia. The whole country was watching. Even Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU had tweeted "Game two, here we go" just minutes before the match. An hour and change later, Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY took to a podium at the Port of Vancouver to unveil the strategy that was to set a new tone in Canada's relations with China. — But by this time, the mood had changed somewhat. Croatia was up 2-1 at halftime, and Canadians were feeling tense. "The central tenet of our Indo-Pacific strategy is acting in Canada's national interest without compromising our values," Joly said. — The overview: Joly promised nearly C$2.3 billion in new spending over the next five years, to be used in part to expand Canada's military and naval presence in the region and to bolster its intelligence and cybersecurity networks to guard against foreign interference. Canada also wants to expand trade in the region, including with India, and plans to launch a new trade gateway in southeast Asia and to appoint an Indo-Pacific trade representative. The strategy also includes sections on fighting climate change in the Indo-Pacific region and supporting human rights. International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN was on hand in Vancouver to speak to some of that, but it was hard to hear him over the country's collective groan at 12:30 p.m. when Croatia scored yet again, all but dashing Canada's hopes of a World Cup victory. — By 1 p.m., the press conference was over, and Canada had been eliminated. The ministers in Vancouver had donuts to share. Everyone else quietly finished their beers and went home. AND WHAT ABOUT CHINA? — You may recall the Globe and Mail reported last summer that the first draft of the Indo-Pacific strategy made no mention of China. Well, the final version definitely does, calling it "an increasingly disruptive global power." Here are a few other notable lines that signal Ottawa's new approach to Beijing: — "China's rise, enabled by the same international rules and norms that it now increasingly disregards, has had an enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific, and it has ambitions to become the leading power in the region." — "China is looking to shape the international order into a more permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours." — "At the same time, China's sheer size and influence makes cooperation necessary to address some of the world's existential pressures, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, global health and nuclear proliferation. And China's economy offers significant opportunities for Canadian exporters." — "Our approach to China is shaped by a realistic and clear-eyed assessment of today's China. In areas of profound disagreement, we will challenge China, including when it engages in coercive behaviour." THE HEADLINES —  Everything about the announcement of the Indo-Pacific strategy was a little, shall we say, anticlimactic. Its arrival, years in the making, was heralded in a Friday afternoon news release, shortly after the prime minister had finished his hours-long testimony before the Emergencies Act inquiry. The event itself happened in the middle of Canada's historic World Cup soccer match. Several reporters only got a look at the document two minutes before the press conference began. The strategy wasn't made public for nearly another two hours. Trudeau, who managed to tweet about soccer AND tennis earlier on Sunday, didn't get around to the new strategy until 6 p.m. And a technical briefing to help reporters get a better handle on its contents was scheduled for, uh, today. — But by the time Joly started speaking on Sunday, we already had a pretty good idea what was in the document. On Saturday, the Globe and Mail's ROBERT FIFE and STEVEN CHASE were out with a preview of the new money going to national security agencies to fight "foreign influence and disinformation campaigns." First thing Sunday morning, Bloomberg's MATHIEU DION had a piece out that focused on a pledge to revise the Investment Canada Act to address concerns about Chinese state-owned enterprises. And the CBC's MURRAY BREWSTER had a story out mid-morning on the "surprisingly blunt language" used to describe China. — Related: Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. WAYNE EYRE told CTV's Question Period Sunday that Canada's military would be "hard-pressed" to launch another large-scale operation, given personnel and equipment shortages. Did someone forward you this Playbook? Click here to sign up for your own . For your radar A NEW CHAPTER — Today marks the start of the next, likely less exciting phase of the Emergencies Act inquiry. This week, nearly 50 experts will participate in roundtable discussions to help Commissioner PAUL ROULEAU come up with his final recommendations — including, possibly, changes to the Emergencies Act. The policy phase starts this morning at 9:30 a.m. with a panel on fundamental rights and freedoms at stake in public protests, moderated by ROBERT LECKEY, dean of McGill University's law faculty. A panel this afternoon will tackle financial governance, policing and intelligence. Panels later in the week will focus on issues ranging from misinformation to national security to police-government relations. — Unanswered questions: The six weeks of public hearings gave some extraordinary insight into what was happening behind the scenes during the "Freedom Convoy" protest, among law enforcement agencies and at different levels of government. But after all that, some things are still pretty murky. Here are three questions without clear answers: — Did police have a real plan to dislodge the protesters before the Emergencies Act was invoked? According to the Ottawa Police Service, yes. According to Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU, absolutely not. Here's PAUL WELLS on this central question : "If all of this is true, there's a kind of tragic misunderstanding at play, like an O. Henry story: the government dusted off a special law to help the police, who had come up with a plan that didn't need the special plan." — Was the legal threshold met to invoke the act? This is, of course, one of the central questions facing Rouleau. Over the last couple of weeks, much time has been spent dissecting the fact that CSIS found the protest did not amount to a threat to the security of Canada according to the definition in the CSIS Act, but Cabinet nonetheless found it did. Here's the Globe and Mail's ANDREW COYNE on the issue: "To justify the sorts of intrusions on civil liberties that, say, CSIS might be called upon to engage in, the bar should be set very high indeed. To commandeer a tow truck, less so. I think that was the distinction the Prime Minister was trying to make." — Does any of this matter? Polls suggest that most Canadians had made up their minds about the Emergencies Act before the inquiry got underway, with a majority pretty sympathetic to the government's decision. The general consensus among columnists on Friday was that, whatever you think of his decision, Trudeau performed well. He delivered "a surprisingly relaxed, reflective and confident performance," CTV's DON MARTIN opined . "He was neither flippant, nor evasive, nor stagey, nor ingratiating — all the things he usually is," Coyne decided. "Rather, his answers came across as sincere, considered and, dare I say it, reasonable." Be that as it may, Rouleau could still find the government overstepped when his final report comes out in February. But the Toronto Star's CHANTAL HÉBERT contends that even then, "the prime minister's minority government is unlikely to take a decisive hit over the issue." — Related reading: The Emergencies Act inquiry could cost close to C$19 million, the CBC's DARREN MAJOR reports . — Related listening: The Globe's Decibel pod breaks down Trudeau's testimony. FOR THE RECORD — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE had a busy weekend talking to the media. Just not Parliament Hill media. On Saturday, Poilievre tweeted photos from a press conference in Toronto that had not been announced to the parliamentary press gallery. "Would have loved to have been there because our audience is interested in what the Leader of the Off Oppo has to say," Global News correspondent DAVID AKIN tweeted . On Sunday, the Conservative leader posted about two new interviews he gave over the weekend — one with the Nigerian Canadian Newspaper and another with Kontakt , a weekly TV show serving the Ukrainian community. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS 9 a.m. Mental Health and Addictions Minister CAROLYN BENNETT will be in Toronto to make a funding announcement for youth mental health and substance use services. She will hold a press conference at 9:25 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA will be at the Ottawa airport to announce funding for infrastructure projects at the airport. 10 a.m. Government officials will hold a virtual technical briefing for media on the Indo-Pacific strategy. 10:30 a.m. The Supreme Court of Canada will hold a welcome ceremony in the courtroom for Justice MICHELLE O'BONSAWIN. 11 a.m. Women and Gender Equality Minister MARCI IEN will be in Toronto to make an announcement about preventing gender-based violence. 2 p.m. Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend Question Period. 3:30 p.m. Freeland will appear before the House of Commons finance committee to discuss Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act. The committee will also hear from parliamentary budget officer YVES GIROUX. MEDIA ROOM The World Cup, 2022. | AP Photo/Hassan Ammar — POLITICO's ALI WALKER explains why Qatar has already won the World Cup. — Gulfstream Park, a company owned by the Stronach Group, contributed more than $300,000 to Florida politicians backing anti-LGBTQ laws, the Globe's ADRIAN MORROW reports. — From LISA VAN DUSEN at Policy magazine: As China's citizens take to the streets, Canada takes a side. — Former Privy Council clerk MICHAEL WERNICK discusses public service reform on the Hot Room. The conversation picks up where his Policy Options essay left off.  — "I don't know whether the government has genuinely learned much from the AIDS conference fiasco," the Canada Research Chair in translational epidemiology and global health at McGill tells CP's DYLAN ROBERTSON. Canada's immigration department offers another take.  — The Globe's MATT LUNDY talks to experts with tough questions about the Liberal government's plans to boost immigration. "It is a population boom with its share of growing pains." — Top of POLITICO this morning: The GOP's great Trump reckoning begins at the state party level. — And if you're in the mood for a truly offensive number of cow-related puns , here's CP's MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH with a senator's "legen-dairy" speech. PROZONE Our latest headlines for POLITICO Pro subscribers: — U.S. bans Chinese telecom gear sales over national security fears. — Canada's new Indo-Pacific strategy takes a harder line on China. — U.S. to extend tariff cuts for Covid-related medical imports. — Washington pressed Ottawa to shut down 'Freedom Convoy' blockades. — Canada reveals C$1.6-billion climate change adaptation plan. — RCMP use of spyware warrants update to Canada's privacy laws, MPs say. PLAYBOOKERS Movers and shakers: SUZANNE GUÈVREMONT is the new government film commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada. Spotted: JUSTIN TRUDEAU on Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World … Ambassador KIRSTEN HILLMAN, picking up an honorary degree from RMC. Senator STAN KUTCHER with a timely question: "Where is our national long #Covid strategy?" … Liberal MP CHRIS BITTLE, on the hunt for Twitter alternatives. JESSE BROWN, pointing out all the legacy Canadian media outlets that have official Twitter status — and all the new media outlets that don't. Carleton J-School grad MENAKA RAMAN-WILMS, reading from her first work of fiction , The Rooftop Garden. Media mentions: Globe political reporter KRISTY KIRKUP writes in from parental leave with a first-hand account of the pediatric health crisis. "The health of our kids depends on us caring. My kids, and everyone else's kids, really need your help. I'm begging you," she writes. STEPHEN COOKE is leaving the Chronicle Herald/SaltWire Network after 25+ years. Farewells: CAROLINE ANDREW, a University of Ottawa professor in the School of Political Studies and a Franco-Ontarian advocate, has died. On the Hill — Find the latest House committee meetings here . — Keep track of Senate committees here . 11 a.m. The House operations committee continues its study of the outsourcing of contracts. The committee moves behind closed doors in its second hour to discuss committee business. 11 a.m. The House Indigenous affairs committee will hear from auditor general KAREN HOGAN as part of its study of Arctic sovereignty. 3:30 p.m. The House transport committee will hear from officials with the Canadian Transportation Agency and Transport Canada, as well as from the National Airlines Council and WestJet Airlines, as part of its study of air passenger protection regulations. 3:30 p.m. A suite of government officials will appear before the House agriculture committee regarding the Ukraine goods remission order. 3:30 p.m. The House foreign affairs committee will conduct clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-211, which would require companies and government bodies to report publicly on forced labor in their supply chains. 3:30 p.m. The House ethics committee will meet to study privacy concerns regarding the ArriveCAN app, and then to continue its study of the access to information and privacy system. 3:30 p.m. Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will appear before the House finance committee to discuss Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act. In its second hour, the committee will hear from parliamentary budget officer YVES GIROUX. 4 p.m. The Senate human rights committee will hear from several government and intelligence officials as it studies Islamophobia in Canada. 4 p.m. The Senate national security committee will hear from witnesses regarding Arctic governance and northern perspectives. 5:15 p.m. The Senate official languages committee will continue its study of francophone immigration to minority communities. 6:30 p.m. The House science and research committee will continue its study of international moonshot programs. Behind closed doors: The House industry committee will meet in camera to consider two draft reports and a draft letter. The House status of women committee will meet in camera to consider a draft report on resource development and violence against Indigenous women and girls. The House veterans affairs committee will consider a draft report on survivor pension benefits. The House justice committee will discuss its report on the government's obligations to victims of crime. The House human resources committee will consider two draft reports. TRIVIA Friday's answer: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY snapped Friday's photo at Library and Archives Canada. Others pointed out the same detailing can be found in the Wellington Building. We accepted both answers. Props to SARAH ANSON-CARTWRIGHT, MP GREG FERGUS, GREG MACEACHERN, NANCI WAUGH and JOHN ECKER. Today's question: "People lost their livelihoods, their families, and, some, their lives. Today, we offer a long overdue apology to all those whom we, the Government of Canada, wronged. We are sorry." Who spoke these words on this date in history — and why? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn't happen without: Luiza Ch. Savage and Sue Allan. 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Nick Taylor-Vaisey @TaylorVaisey Sue Allan @susan_allan 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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