Redact, don’t do it

Jan 17, 2023

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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey. Today, we gripe about government secrecy on the topic of Covid vaccines. Plus, DOUG FORD throws down the healthcare gauntlet. Also, our first look at BILL MORNEAU's new memoir.

DRIVING THE DAY

A table included in a federal briefing note that redacts key details of vaccine projections for 2021

Key details of vaccine projections for 2021 were redacted from this briefing note. | Public Health Agency of Canada

BLACKOUT — On Aug. 5, 2021, then-health minister PATTY HAJDU received a briefing note from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The country was in an enviable position after a rocky start to the Covid vaccine rollout earlier that year.

By summertime, Canada was rolling in doses — and looking to donate the surplus.

In the memo, the bureaucrats projected all the doses they planned to receive in 2021, explained how many would end up in a central inventory, and how many deliveries should be deferred to a later date. They also projected how many could be donated in the remainder of that year.

A handy table near the bottom of the memo (pictured above) summarized the topline numbers for the minister.

PHAC disclosed the document to Playbook last Dec. 29, almost a year and a half after Hajdu approved it. The dose projections were almost certainly a thing of the past — though the need for secrecy was not, it seems.

Almost every number associated with dose projections was redacted.

— Why it matters: PHAC broadcasts its accomplishments in remarkable detail. For instance, the agency posts daily updates to a website that tracks every Covid vaccine dose acquired and distributed to the provinces.

Ottawa had distributed 118,751,012 overall doses by Jan. 12, 2023. And the data gets more granular. By the same date, Quebecers had received 1,265,760 doses of Pfizer's bivalent vaccine. We know this because the agency proactively disclosed the information.

The feds also maintain a growing list of global vaccine donations. The most recent entry notes a batch of 20,000 Moderna doses shipped to El Salvador via the international COVAX facility on Dec. 15, 2022. The government claims to have donated "the equivalent of more than 196 million doses, including at least 41.5 million doses deemed surplus from Canada's domestic supply."

Back in October 2021, Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU promised 200 million doses by the end of 2022.

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. | Lynne Sladky/AP Photo

— Outcomes and objectives: There's lots of the former, but the latter is sorely lacking.

PHAC chose to hide its supply and donation goals and targets using a variety of tools in Canada's access-to-information law. The redactions claimed to protect federal-provincial consultations or deliberations; it was suggested the information could help or hinder the competitive position of a third party; in other places, advice given to a minister was shielded to protect the deliberations.

— The upshot: We know the government pulled off a stunning procurement win in the global race for coveted vaccines, but far less about what it hoped to achieve at the height of a prolonged period of uncertainty.

So how is anyone supposed to grade the government's performance against its plans?

(Auditor general KAREN HOGAN did poke and prod the federal government's massive effort on vaccine procurement. And she revealed problems, including unnecessary wastage.)

— Filling in the blanks: After receiving the redacted memo, Playbook asked the agency for a month-by-month breakdown, by manufacturer, of Canada's mRNA supply for 2021. We asked for the total number of doses donated, stored in a central inventory and deferred to the future.

PHAC came through with that data. We'll never know how these figures match the government's ambition, because PHAC's access-to-information censors aren't willing to say. But we do know what actually played out that year.

We reconstructed the table to show exactly what happened to all those 2021 doses. No redactions required.

This table describes what happened to millions of vaccine doses delivered to Canada in 2021.

Millions of vaccine doses were delivered to Canada in 2021. | Health Canada

— In related reading: Globe and Mail vs. EDC on access to information.

For your radar

WEDGE FIGHT — Premier DOUG FORD described Ontario's overtaxed health-care system in folksy metaphorical terms at a Monday news conference. This is Doug Ford. Of course he did.

"You have a dam, you have a log jam. Are you going to just keep pouring the water up against the logs? Or are you going to reroute some of the water and take the pressure off the dam? You see what happens when the dam has too much water, it breaks," he told reporters in Toronto.

The premier wants to ratchet up the availability of minimally invasive surgical procedures in order to alleviate years-long waitlists.

His three-phase plan would see clinics in Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Windsor perform thousands more cataract operations each year. Next, more clinics would offer MRIs, CT scans, colonoscopies and endoscopies. Finally, hip and knee replacements would be more widely available by 2024.

— The P-word: The clinics offering expanded services will be privately run, for-profit enterprises. Welcome to the third rail to end all third rails. The untouchable debate. Cue the howls about the erosion of universal healthcare.

Ford and his health minister, SYLVIA JONES, insist every single eligible procedure will remain publicly funded. Patients need only bring their Ontario health card.

Those assurances weren't enough for the government's angriest critics.

BERNIE ROBINSON, Ontario Nurses Association: "Our government is creating a two-tier system where those who can pay out of pocket will jump the queue to receive their surgery and treatment first."

J.P. HORNICK, Ontario Public Service Employees Union: "The claim that patients will never pay out of pocket for health care under this sell-off scheme is another lie. Whether they're upselling or double-billing, private clinics put profits first — and this move will undoubtedly hurt patients and the public healthcare system we all depend on."

— Not backing down: The presumptive NDP leader, MARIT STILES, came out firing.

Queen's Park Tories were spoiling for a fight. MATTHEW CLANCY, Ford's executive director of issues management, claimed the NDP is "ideologically opposed to any change and will fight for the status quo no matter what. This means longer wait times, delayed surgeries, and growing backlogs. This is what they want."

— All quiet in Ottawa: You might expect a fiery response from the federal Liberals. In 2021, they all but accused ERIN O'TOOLE of advocating for the end of public healthcare. (Remember the infamous Freeland tweet?) And Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU isn't shy about contrasting himself against Ford.

Asked about Ford's plan on Monday, the PM said his government would "ensure that the Canada Health Act is always respected." But then he appeared to foreshadow a happy conclusion to protracted disagreements with the province on federal healthcare transfers.

"We're all very much on the same page. There is a need for more money," said the PM. "I look forward to being able to announce positive steps forward in the very near future."

Sources told CBC News that fed-prov talks are planned for February in Ottawa.

— In related reading: Why Doug Ford's health-care plan might be worth a shot, by MATT GURNEY.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Windsor, Ont.

— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Toronto in "private meetings."

8:30 a.m. Statistics Canada will release the Consumer Price Index for December 2022.

9 a.m. AT (8: a.m. ET) Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS is in Cornwall, P.E.I., to "announce additions to the Improving Affordable Access to Prescriptions Drugs initiative."

11:15 a.m. Trudeau will meet with university students.

2:15 p.m. Trudeau will tour an automotive assembly plant and meet with workers.

3 p.m. Trudeau will speak with reporters.

6:30 p.m. Trudeau will speak at a party fundraiser featuring Public Safety Minister MARCO MENDICINO.

ASK US ANYTHING

TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW — We welcome your tips and intel. What are you hearing that you need Playbook readers to know? Send details.

Talk of the town

IT'S ALIVE — Former finance minister BILL MORNEAU's sharp-tongued memoir is in bookstores today. "Where to From Here" is packed with reflections on five years in Cabinet. Playbook is filling our copy with Post-it notes, but here's what we noticed for Day 1.

— On McKinsey: The former politician played a key role in stoking the infamous global consultancy's influence in Ottawa. Morneau appointed DOMINIC BARTON the chair of his Council on Economic Growth, and McKinsey offered consulting muscle pro bono.

In his book, Morneau described Barton's firm as "working closely with the Department of Finance in what turned out to be a particularly effective partnership."

If seamless integration between McKinsey and the federal bureaucracy was a red flag, Morneau doesn't appear to have noticed. He plays up the interwovenness of it all.

"Our approach was unique in that we had the outside experts work closely with our team at finance in developing new policy objectives. In this case, the goal was straightforward and, in my view, critical to the country's future: crafting a strategic plan to enhance the long-term growth of our economy."

— The acknowledgments: The first rule of reading a memoir is to flip to the back to see who the author deems worthy of appreciation. Here's Morneau's list:

Staffers: ELDER MARQUES, SHARAN KAUR, MARION PILON-COUSINEAU, ROBERT ASSELIN, IAN FOUCHER, JUSTIN TO, PIERRE-OLIVIER HERBERT, MATT BARNES

Bureaucrats: "I am also indebted to insights offered by my former colleagues at the Department of Finance who, following their policy of impartiality, must remain nameless."

Family: NANCY, his wife, and daughter CLARE were "enormously supportive and candidly critical of material I asked them to review."

— On leadership: Morneau has a lot to say about leaders, from Trudeau at the Cabinet table to Trump at the negotiating table. In his closing pages, the ex-pol distils his vision for the leader Canada needs. Prepare for a bit of a run-on sentence:

"The most important elements to look for in choosing our leaders are an ability to build relationships on the way to achieving a constructive compromise and sufficient experience to gain a new outlook on what needs to be done and the means to do it."

Are you reading Morneau's reflections on power and politics? Tell us what you think, either confidentially or for public consumption. The choice is yours.

MEDIA ROOM

Antony Blinken signs an agreement while seated at a table.

Antony Blinken signs an agreement on space cooperation with Japan, at NASA headquarters, Jan. 13. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo

— POLITICO reports: Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN will meet in Beijing with his counterpart, Chinese Foreign minister QIN GANG, on Feb. 5–6.

— PAUL WELLS posts McKinsey's defense of its government contracts in advance of a House committee hearing. Wells also wishes anyone had listened to the warnings of the late MICHAEL FERGUSON.

— One from POLITICO's archives: How consultants like McKinsey took over France.

— This morning on THE DECIBEL: What history can tell us about this economic moment.

— Shared by ERIN O'TOOLE: "The West should supply tanks to Ukraine," in The Economist.

— Data journalist ROBERTO ROCHA warns listeners on The Big Story pod about all the lobbying in Ottawa that might elude a federal registry. (What Rocha didn't mention: the lobbyists who goose their meeting counts by logging even incidental interactions with fancy-titled policymakers.)

— MATT LUNDY of the Globe reports: Ottawa prepared to use 'aggressive measures' to reduce immigration backlog, policy memo reveals.

— The National Observer reports: Confidential documents reveal Bay Street's attempt to greenwash Canadian regulations.

PROZONE

For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter: Pit stops on the road to zero.

In news for POLITICO Pro subscribers:

— China confirms surge in Covid deaths since lockdowns lifted.

— Airplane lavatories deliver new hope for the CDC's variant hunt.

— Ukraine calls for 'Cyber United Nations' amid Russian attacks.

— U.S. lawmakers in Davos tell Europeans: America's not protectionist.

PLAYBOOKERS

Birthdays: HBD to MP KODY BLOIS, Sen. RENÉE DUPUIS and former Alberta MLA DOUG HORNER.

Movers and shakers: Former Ontario deputy premier CHRISTINE ELLIOTT joined Western University's law school as distinguished leader in residence.

BRANDEN LESLIE is seeking the Tory nomination in Portage–Lisgar, where CANDICE BERGEN isn't running for re-election. Leslie was a Hill staffer for most of a decade, and ran Bergen's 2019 re-election campaign before taking on a policy role at the Grain Growers of Canada.

JASON TUCKER starts a new gig as legislative assistant to Tory MP KELLY MCCAULEY. Tucker last worked for Tory BEN LOBB.

Sandstone Group senior associate DOUG THOMAS is now federal managing director of St. John's Ambulance.

DONALD HOUSTON started a two-year term as senior general counsel with the Competition Bureau Legal Services. He's also legal adviser to the commissioner of competition.

NICOLAS VINCENT is the Bank of Canada's new external, non-executive deputy governor. He'll start March 13, filling the vacancy created by TIMOTHY LANE's departure.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Canada branch tapped MIKE MORGANTON, senior corporate development analyst, to rep its interest on the Hill. One priority: "discussing potential funding for electricity transmission infrastructure and renewable energy generation."

Spotted: Saskatchewan Premier SCOTT MOE, miffed at the prime minister for visiting his province without a head's up. And the PM's evergreen response readymade for any fed-prov beef: "I'm always happy to work with the government of Saskatchewan to deliver good jobs for workers across Saskatchewan."

Sen. GIGI OSLER, officially name-plated.

RBC senior VP JOHN STACKHOUSE, en route to Davos "to see if globalization survived the pandemic."

Registration is now open for the Conservative Party's 2023 convention, which runs Sept. 7–9 in Quebec City. Liberals also recently opened registration for their own biennial convention: May 4–6 in Ottawa.

Media mentions: HALEY LEWIS started at Global News in Vancouver, "covering all things Indigenous across B.C. and Alberta + prioritizing what matters to community."

Global News reporter RACHEL GILMORE, testing positive for Covid just as she qualified for a booster … Journalist MICHELE CYCA tweeted a thread of Vancouver-inspired novels following JESSE BROWN's smackdown of the city.

On the Hill

For your radar: The House government operations and estimates committee will meet Wednesday to discuss the need for a study into government contracts awarded to McKinsey & Company.

→ Find upcoming House committees here

→ Keep track of Senate committees here

The House of Commons is back Jan. 30; the Senate returns Jan. 31.

TRIVIA

Monday's answer: Prime Minister LESTER PEARSON joined President LYNDON JOHNSON in Texas to sign the Canada–United States Automotive Products Agreement. PAUL MARTIN Sr., external affairs minister at the time, joined the expedition.

Props to GREGORY THOMAS, JOHN DILLON, GABRIEL CASSIE, CULLY ROBINSON, RYAN HAMILTON, KATE DALGLEISH, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JOHN ECKER, LAURA JARVIS, DOUG SWEET and ROSS LECLAIR (first in our inbox).

Today's question: In what year did the cohort of House of Commons pages first include women?

Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

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