The PM goes to Mexico

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Jan 09, 2023 View in browser   By Maura Forrest and Zi-Ann Lum Send tips | Subscribe here | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I'm your host, Maura Forrest, with Zi-Ann Lum. Today, we have three things to watch this week, including the "Three Amigos" summit in Mexico City. Also, knives are out for the "just transition" bill. And BILL MORNEAU sounds off. DRIVING THE DAY Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. | Alex Wong/Getty Images THREE THINGS TO WATCH —  The PM is in Mexico early this week for the "Three Amigos" summit, but will be back in Ottawa by Thursday to welcome the prime minister of Japan. Meanwhile, there will be some action on Parliament Hill today when the transport committee meets to discuss holiday travel chaos. THREE AMIGOS — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU lands in Mexico City today where migration, security, and competitiveness are hot topics on the formal North American Leaders' Summit agenda. After working the room at a business leaders' meeting, Trudeau will end the day at an intimate dinner with President JOE BIDEN and host Mexican President ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR and their spouses. Official bi- and tri-lat talks begin tomorrow. Trudeau and Biden will meet Tuesday morning, ahead of the summit's official launch. — Trudeau's entourage: SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU, Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY and International Trade Minister MARY NG. — Friends with Inflation Reduction Act benefits: BRIAN NICHOLS, assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere issues, previewed the summit during a Wilson Center talk on Friday. Expect announcements on expanding security cooperation to cut drug trafficking, improving labor mobility and promoting industrial decarbonization, he said. Nichols was asked what makes this summit different from the others Biden attends. "Our societies are integrated in such a way that really is not reflected in our relations with any other countries in the world," he said, after claiming the European Union is the "only real rival" in regional supply chain integration. Nichols got personal. Millions of Americans can trace their heritage to Mexico, he said. "I have relatives who are Canadian," he added about wife GERALDINE KAM's family, "shocking as that may be." — Related reading: In an exclusive interview, Trudeau told Reuters' STEVE SCHERER he will seek progress this week in a dispute over measures favoring Mexican energy companies. For the Canadian Press, here's JAMES MCCARTEN on why "Trudeau will need to raise his voice a little to get Biden's attention" this week. And here's POLITICO's MYAH WARD and JONATHAN LEMIRE this morning: Migration issues cast long shadow over Biden's visit to 'Three Amigos' summit. JAPANESE PM — Japanese Prime Minister FUMIO KISHIDA will make his first official visit to Canada this week, part of a weeklong tour of five countries ahead of his G-7 presidency this year. Kishida will meet with Trudeau on Thursday, and will head to Washington later that day. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral trade, security and Russia's war in Ukraine. — What to expect: As CP's DYLAN ROBERTSON reported over the weekend, Kishida's visit comes as Japan looks to reduce its reliance on China and Russia for electricity and food. TREVOR KENNEDY, vice-president for international policy at the Business Council of Canada, told CP that Kishida "will likely seek a further commitment from Canada to sell liquefied natural gas, and mention an ongoing interest in hydrogen." Japan and South Korea have invested in LNG Canada, the country's first export terminal, which is expected to begin shipping to Asia in 2025. Robertson also reports that Kishida may "publicly endorse Canada's desire to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity." TRAVEL WOES —  The House of Commons transport committee will meet this afternoon to discuss plans to study the holiday travel mess that left hundreds of travelers stranded. The committee won't hear from witnesses today, but chair PETER SCHIEFKE has indicated he wants to hear from officials with Sunwing and VIA Rail. The Conservatives and NDP have also been calling for Transport Minister OMAR ALGHABRA to testify about the flight cancellations and rail disruptions over the holidays. Alghabra has said he would "welcome the opportunity" to appear before the committee. — What's coming: The transport minister has done a round of interviews in the last few days, promising to strengthen protections for air passengers. He didn't go into detail about what changes he plans to make. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU heads to Mexico City today for the North American Leaders' Summit, touching down at 3:40 p.m. (2:40 p.m. CST) with SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU. Trudeau will participate in the North American CEO Summit at 5:35 p.m. (4:35 p.m. CST) and will attend a dinner hosted by Mexican President ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR at 7:35 p.m. (6:35 p.m. CST). Trudeau will meet with U.S. President JOE BIDEN on Tuesday morning, ahead of the summit's official launch. He will be joined during the summit by Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY and International Trade Minister MARY NG. — International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN is visiting Barbados and Jamaica this week, and will hold discussions with regional officials regarding human rights, gender equality, Covid-19 vaccinations and natural disaster resilience, per a news release. 10 a.m. Defense Minister ANITA ANAND will make an announcement regarding the Future Fighter Capability Project. Here's the Ottawa Citizen's DAVID PUGLIESE with the details. For your radar BATTLE LINES — We haven't yet seen the Liberals' long-awaited "just transition" bill, but DANIELLE SMITH already hates it. "We are not going to be shutting down our oil and natural gas industry. We are not going to be transitioning our workers, who are in good, high-paying, meaningful, important jobs, into installing solar panels," the Alberta premier said on her Saturday morning radio show, per Postmedia News. There's been a flurry of excitement about the legislation since Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON told CBC News last week the bill would be introduced early this year. The Liberals have promised "just transition" legislation since 2019 as part of an effort to switch oil and gas workers into green-energy jobs. Wilkinson has been trying to frame the bill as a plan to help fill all the soon-to-be-created jobs in the sustainable economy — not as an attempt to shut down the oil and gas industry. — But Alberta isn't convinced: Environment Minister SONYA SAVAGE last week said the yet-to-be-tabled bill would "phase out hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the energy sector." She also wants Ottawa to stop using the term "just transition." Wilkinson seems to agree on that point, saying he prefers to talk about "sustainable jobs." — It isn't just the Alberta government that's up in arms: "An energy transition is occurring, yet it will take many, many years for the shift to unfold," Calgary Herald columnist CHRIS VARCOE wrote on Friday. "In the meantime, workers are needed now in the oil and gas sector." And a Postmedia editorial concludes that "Wilkinson's optimism should be viewed with skepticism." — Also in the hopper: The "just transition" bill is hardly going to be the only energy policy that inflames tensions between Ottawa and Alberta this year. The Liberals are also expected to outline the design of their promised oil and gas emissions cap early this year. Smith has already called that policy "against the Constitution." RICK SMITH, president of the Canadian Climate Institute, tells Playbook that "some of the most significant pieces in Canada's net-zero plan have to materialize this year," including the emissions cap, clean electricity regulations and progress on "carbon contracts for differences," which the Liberals see as a measure to guarantee a price on carbon into the future. —Big year ahead: "Those three policies alone are going to be enormously important in whether our country meets our emission reduction targets or not," Smith said. "If 2022 was the year of climate-change planning, this is going to be the year of climate-change policy implementation." — Related reading: For the Globe and Mail, KELLY CRYDERMAN writes that it's "hard to imagine a worse-sounding catch phrase than 'just transition.'" Did someone forward you this Playbook? Click here to sign up for your own. Talk of the town NO HOLDS BARRED — In the midst of the January doldrums, thank goodness for BILL MORNEAU. Trudeau's former finance minister is doing press for a new memoir, out next week, and the excerpts published so far are juicy. It's no secret that Morneau and Trudeau had their disagreements ahead of his resignation as cabinet minister and MP in August 2020. But Morneau's forthcoming book, titled "Where To From Here," gets candid about what he sees as the PM's weaknesses, where they didn't see eye to eye, and how he thinks governments should do better. Here are a few lines that caught our attention, published by the Globe and Mail, CTV News and PAUL WELLS. On JUSTIN TRUDEAU: "Soon after the [2015] election, I came to realize that while his performance skills were superb, his management and interpersonal communication abilities were sorely lacking," and his Cabinet was "chosen not necessarily for what they brought to the business of governing but to the needs of promotion." On the government's pandemic response : "My job … had deteriorated into serving as something between a figurehead and a rubber stamp," and "policy rationales were tossed aside in favour of scoring political points." On the WE Charity scandal that preceded his resignation: "No serious person truly believed that I was financially influenced by these connections [with WE] — it was all about politics." On his meeting with Trudeau to tender his resignation: "Our problem was not any clashes between us, but the absence of both a shared agenda and a working relationship." On PIERRE POILIEVRE: The Conservative leader, formerly finance critic, "seemed to view the House of Commons not as a site for hard-nosed debating, but as a gladiatorial arena where encounters were measured by the amount of blood spilled and the number of personal insults hurled." MEDIA ROOM — JASON KIRBY's chartapalooza officially signals the new year is underway. The 2023 edition features contributions from BEATA CARANCI, SIDDHARTHA BHATTACHARYA, ARMINE YALNIZYAN and many others. — Memorial University political scientist ALEX MARLAND previews the year ahead on The Hot Room. (Episode includes musings on CHRYSTIA FREELAND'snext move.) — In case you missed it, on CBC's At Issue panel there was much talk of ERIN O'TOOLE; ALTHIA RAJ observed that the former Conservative leader's recent essays on Substack are part of his rehabilitation. "I don't expect that Erin O'Toole will be running again for a seat in the House of Commons," she said. — CHANTAL HÉBERT and BRUCE ANDERSON put a damper on Cabinet shuffle speculation on the latest outing of The Bridge while also imagining scenarios that might initiate one — "if someone like Erin O'Toole wants to do a BELINDA STRONACH and cross the floor," for example. — IAN CAMPBELL reports in The Hill Times: MAID task group 'still on track' to meet February timeline. — The Green Line's ANITA LI offers up 13 lessons she's learned as a news entrepreneur. — Top of POLITICO at this hour: Republicans defend speaker votes: Messy, but it worked. — Finally … "Is Canada 'broken'? And will that be the next ballot-box question?" DAN ARNOLD and DENNIS MATTHEWS discussed this near the close of a jam-packed edition of CBC's The House. PROZONE For POLITICO Pro subscribers, here's our latest policy newsletter from ZI-ANN LUM: Smells like another rate hike. Other headlines for Pro readers: — What's in McCarthy's emerging deal with conservatives — and why it got him the votes. — Taiwan asks to join U.S.-China chips dispute talks at WTO. — Covid cases, hospitalizations spike as new variant gains foothold. — White House issues major climate change guidance. — How cannabis impacts other chronic pain treatments. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to Calgary MLA MIKE ELLIS and to former B.C. MLA BARRY PENNER, whose birthday is today, Jan. 9, and not Jan. 6, as Friday's Playbook incorrectly stated. (Somebody please update his Wikipedia page!) Movers and shakers: ALISON MURPHY has left PATTY HAJDU's office for a new press secretary gig with the PMO. PETER WILKINSON, one-time chief of staff to former Ontario premier DALTON MCGUINTY, will soon take over as Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY's chief of staff (h/t the Toronto Star's ROBERT BENZIE). Compass Rose is welcoming back KATHLEEN WALSH and BEA VONGDOUANGCHANH. BRYCE PHILLIPS has resigned as CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, effective Jan. 6. Conservative Party outreach chair ARPAN KHANNA, vice-president of Global Public Affairs RICK ROTH and DEBORAH TAIT, daughter of outgoing Tory MP DAVE MACKENZIE, will fight for the Conservative nomination in the Ontario riding of Oxford, reports the Hill Times' ABBAS RANA. "After a decade working as a political staffer at Queen's Park and on the Hill," STEVIE O'BRIEN has "made the difficult decision to step away." Spotted: Bloomberg Canada managing editor DEREK DECLOET, out for coffee on Friday at Little Victories in Ottawa amid a bureau chief vacancy at Bloomberg's Hill bureau. KATIE TELFORD, tweeting a whole lot about child care… SHACHI KURL, scoring her third Room Rater 10/10. CAROLYN BENNETT, finishing a French course in Quebec… LISA HELFAND, Canada's ambassador to the Netherlands, taking a chilly dip with British Ambassador JOANNA ROPER. LES PERREAUX, not missing writing journalism. Media mentions: The CBC is looking for a new host for Power & Politics — for a one-year contract. Farewells: Magazine editor STEPHEN TRUMPER died Jan. 4, at age 69. "Stephen's wit and wisdom continues in the words he wrote, students he taught and the hearts of those who loved him," reads his obituary. On the Hill — Find the latest House committee meetings here. — Keep track of Senate committees here. 3:30 p.m. The House transport committee will gather in Room 415 of the Wellington Building to discuss the need to study holiday travel mayhem and the treatment of rail and air passengers during extended delays. TRIVIA We'll start with the answers to Friday's "Who Said It" quiz, where we asked you to guess whether each of 10 quotes was uttered by Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE or NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH. The highest grade among those who sent us their guesses was 7 out of 10. So if you beat that score, give yourself a pat on the back! Here are the answers: "It is our job… to turn that hurt into hope, to inspire people that a real improvement in their lives is possible." — Poilievre "So many working families across the country are angry because they feel like they are doing everything right but keep falling further behind." — Singh "What [inflation] translates to for real people is that it's getting harder and harder to afford the everyday costs of life. Groceries, putting gas in the car — everything is getting more expensive and families are really hurting." — Singh "I think we have to ask ourselves: 'Why are people so angry?' … And the answer is that they're hurting." — Poilievre "People are doing everything right, but they just can't keep up with rising costs – and their mortgage and credit payments are about to get even more expensive." — Singh "Workers have every right to demand raises for soaring food, homes & fuel prices." — Poilievre "Monthly payments on mega mortgages are rising, even as house prices are falling, so people cannot even sell their homes to pay off their debts." — Poilievre "My parents always taught me that in Canada, it doesn't matter who you know, it matters what you do. If you work hard you can achieve your dreams. That is the hope I want for… all Canadian families." — Poilievre "Our focus is on fighting for people." — Singh "I said to the kids, 'You're older now. You don't watch Disney anymore. Let's cut that Disney+ subscription. So, we cut it. It's only C$13.99 a month that we're saving, but every little bit helps." — Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND (yes, it was a trick question — we couldn't resist) And now, on to Friday's trivia answer: HEDY FRY is the longest-serving female MP in Canadian history. Props to SYNDEY LINHOLM, WAYNE EASTER, DAVE EPP, AMY BOUGHNER, JOANNA PLATER, KEVIN DORSE, LAURA JARVIS, DOUG RICE, JOHN DILLON, GOZDE KAZAZOGLU, ANNE-MARIE STACEY, SHEILA GERVAIS, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, KATE DALGLEISH, GREGORY THOMAS, BARBARA WRIGHT, GWENDOLYN MONCRIEFF-GOULD, KEVIN BOSCH, BOB ERNEST and GANGA WIGNARAJAH. Today's question: In 1976, the Library of Parliament celebrated its 100th anniversary. What did the chef of the Parliamentary Restaurant create to mark the milestone? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn't happen without: Luiza Ch. Savage, Sue Allan and David Cohen. 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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